Churches & Holy Sites

North Tamerton, St. Denis Church

Tamerton, St. Denis Church

I didn't actually mean to visit North Tamerton on an outing to St. Anne's Church at Whitstone in the north of Cornwall towards the end of June 2018. However a missed turning found me there and I was delighted at the result of my mistake. At first I thought I would not get to see the inside of the church. It was locked but a notice referred me to a key-holder and I was able to enter. Before I did I looked at the tower where, most unusually, I saw that the plinth is decorated with a band of simple but varied carvings. Near the porch is what I thought to be the base of a missing Cornish Cross. The church is essentially 15th century but much embellished inside in the latter half of the 19th century. There is a good wagon roof, with carved bosses, to the chancel. The 12th century font is a simple circular bowl. Near it are two wall memorials, one to Walter Robins, dated 1706. Somehow I managed to miss a small brass, mentioned by Pevsner, to Leonard Loves of nearby Ogbeare Hall. There is some attractive 20th century stained glass. Imagine my pleasure, on entering, to discover that, quite unexpectedly, the church was full of late-medieval carved bench-ends, including some good ones in the quire. To the left of the churchyard as you enter is attractive 16th or 17th century Church House.

North Tamerton Church

North Tamerton Font

Bench End

Photographs

This review was written by Oliver Howes and is reproduced here in his own words. All text and photographs remain his work, preserved in his memory.

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