Saltash, St. Stephen's Church
To open, I can do no better, in describing this somewhat unusual church, than to quote Pevsner - "A large and ambitious church with a stately tower standing in a most unusual position N of the W end of the nave and facing the W end of an obviously later N aisle". The church, set in a grassy but largely empty churchyard, dates from the middle of the 13th century but the present building is largely of the 15th and 16th centuries, much restored, as is the case with so many Cornish churches, in late Victorian times. The tower is impressive as is the interior when you enter the church through a massive oak door. Nave and both aisles are high ceilinged with typically Cornish wagon roofs with an abundance of carved and painted bosses. The reredos, by Harry Hems of Exeter is elaborate and colourfully painted. There are five early 20th century stained glass windows in the north aisle, some quite striking. In the chancel, monuments to the Hitchens family are painted in pastel colours. The Norman font is of the Bodmin type with a central pillar and four slim outside pillars topped with carved heads. Pews have been removed from the rear of the church; those that remain are probably Victorian and of no particular merit. A much eroded lantern cross stands in the churchyard immediately south-east of the church. Now go to St. Nicholas & St. Faith, Saltash
St. Stephen's Church
Modern Glass
Hitchens Monument
Photographs
More in Churches & Holy Sites
Sancreed, St. Sancredus Church
I have been in Sancreed, way down west in West Penwith, almost to Land's End, on four occasions. The first was in July 2006, the second in March 2008 then, after a gap of more than nine years, I was back there in October 2017 and again in April 2018. In 2006, in search only of antiquities, I had ignored the village and had been to Sancreed Beacon and Caer Bran. In 2008 I had concentrated on the church itself and the nearby Holy Well and Baptistery Chapel. In October 2017, the church was closed for renovation so I again concentrated on the Cornish Crosses, one of the finest church collections in Cornwall: I counted five in all, including one on the graveyard hedge to the road and one on the wall by the main steps. According to Pevsner the church of Saint Sancredus is largely of the 15th century. It consists of nave, south aisle, north transept and short pinnacled tower. The porch has an original wagon roof. Inside are rood stairs, remains of the lower part of a rood screen with amusing carvings, and a 15th century font of the St. Ives type with four angels holding shields. The nave and chancel ceilings are particularly fine, the woodwork carved and fretted. The original reredos, a Nativity scene, is now on the north wall of the chancel. Some notable artists are buried in the churchyard, including Stanhope Alexander Forbes, Elizabeth Adela Forbes and Thomas Cooper Gotch. When I was there in April 2018 the graveyard was covered in primroses; that was the occasion when I took the interior photos. A little way up the road, a holy well and baptistery are marked by a modern Cornish Cross.
Sancreeed - Cornish Crosses and a Holy Well and Chapel
In July 2006 I had called in at Sancreed, on my way to walk on Carnyorth Common, in search of a stone circle and some boundary stones, planning just to see a couple of much admired Cornish crosses that I had read about. In the event I stayed much longer than expected as I learned there was a nearby holy well and chapel remains and then I discovered there were bronze age remains on Sancreed Beacon. The church is attractive and clearly mainly of the 14th or 15th centuries. I wasn't able to get in but, if the interior has anything as good as the carved bosses on the porch roof timbers, it should be worth seeing - I hope to return on another occasion to see the inside.
Sennen, St. Sennen's Church
Most people, when they think of Sennen, will think rather of Sennen Cove, the surfimg settlement on the beach on the lovely curve of Whitesand Bay. Attractive though that may be, and I have passed through it many times walking the Coast Path towards Land's End, now my interest is in the village on the road heading there. There is very little to Sennen village except for a few speed bumps, a few houses, the First and Last pub and the small parish church of St. Sennen, the most westerly in England. I say small but there is more to it than at first appears: nave, north transept, chancel, south aisle and, of course, tower. The church dates from mid 15th century and earlier. It was restored in 1867 by the ubiquitous J P St. Aubyn. The internal fittings are a mix of old and relatively new. The small font, with its Victorian cover, bears the date of 1442. Chancel pew ends are topped by carved angels. The 1920s oak pulpit carries carvings of biblical figures and, according to Pevsner, fish, crabs and lobsters, but I didn't spot them. Stained glass is from 1878-9 by Clayton & Bell. In the churchyard are two Cornish Crosses, a tall one overlooking the road and a cross-head by the entrance steps to the churchyard. In the porch is an entertaining welcome message; don't miss it.