St.Breward
Breward, St. Brueredus,
St. Breward is a village of many parts, including Mount Pleasant, Row, Hill, Rylands and, its most northerly, Churchtown. Churchtown is the main centre with the excellent Old Inn pub, the village stores, village hall and, not surprisingly, the church. Dedicated to St. Branwalader or Brueredus, the church stands at the highest part of the village and can be visible for miles, as I have discovered during Bodmin Moor walks. Some claim St. Breward to be the highest village in Cornwall but, at a little over 700 feet, it is way below Minions at 1000 feet; more likely the claim should be to have the highest church in Cornwall. The church is dedicated to St Branwalader, recorded in the 12th century by his original Latin name of Sancti Brewveredi de Hamatethi - Hamatethy Down is just north of St. Breward. It appears to date from Norman times with an arcade of massive, typically Norman, piers. There is a fine wagon roof in the south aisle, other roofs were replaced in 1865 by J. P. St. Aubyn, who over-restored so many Cornish churches. There are some fine memorials, some in slate, but the highlight is the display of carved and painted bench ends, happily retained by St. Aubyn. In the porch note the handsome door surround and the wagon roof with carved bosses. In the lower part of the churchyard, across the lane, is a fine restored Cornish wheel-head cross.
St. Breward Church from the south-east
Painted bench end
St. Buryan, St.
Photographs
More in Churches & Holy Sites
St.Euny
Euny,
Stephen-in-Brannel
St. Stephen, more of a small town than a village is, perhaps, most notable for having a major car dealer, Hawkins, which is Cornwall's largest Peugeot dealer. It is also notable for being the former centre of the chinastone industry, related to the china clay industry further north. Indeed, back in 2016 I spent an interesting day exploring the chinastone mills, set in hilly woodland. On the same day, I tried to visit the church but it was closed and I had to content myself with photographing its Cornish Crosses. Brief research told me that the church is open on Fridays so I made the trip there on a Friday in mid-June 2019. Unfotunately it turned out to be closed again but an email to priest Emma Childs secured me an appointment to meet a helpful churchwarden in the church. The basis of the present church is 15th century but it is evident from the fine 12th century south doorway that the church's origins were Norman. Major restorations, as with so many Cornish churches took place in the mid and late 19th century. The plan is of chancel and north and south aisles. The interior is spacious. Stained glass includes a charming east window by George Cooper Abbs with scenes from local agriculture and the china clay industry. Choir stalls and prayer desks are 19th century Gothic with with stencilled decoration, reflecting the designs of screens to north and south. The font is late Norman of the Bodmin type, figures at the corners, between them trees of life and animals. The communion rail is early 17th century. In the churchyard is a Cornish Cross, plus the base of what may have been another.
Stithians
I visited Stithians in early September 2017 and was fortunate in having a warm and sunny day which gave me the chance to take some good photographs. I had not previously been in Stithians village though I had been to Stithians Lake on several occasions, including one when Jane and I walked the full circuit of the lake, and a couple of occasions when I had stopped there to eat my sandwiches. The only particularly interesting part of the village is the very northern end where the church is. I had gone there primarily for the Cornish Crosses, one in the churchyard, another in the grounds of the Old Rectory opposite. The church itself is of no special interest. Of standard constructions it has tower, nave and two aisles. Monuments include a handsome wall one to William Trewin. There is a conventional octagonal font with an interesting and elaborate wooden cover. The unusual altar cloth features a map of the parish. Stithians is probably best known for its annual agricultural show. Stithians Lake, a reservoir, is home to minor water sports including wind-surfing, canoeing and paddle boarding; a cafe is open there in season.