St. Levan in West Penwith
Levan in West Penwith
Jane and I had seen St. Levan church before in 2004 when we had done a round walk from Porthcurno to Gwennap Head and back. In July 2008 I had time to spare in West Penwith after checking out a problem on the Land's End Trail. So I parked in St. Levan to take a closer look at the church, to visit St. Levan's Well and Baptistry on the cliffs above Porth Chapel and to get some photos at Porthgwarra. What I found proved to be an interesting church with a fascinating churchyard. The church is largely 15th century but with an older tower. Inside are an ancient holy water stoup in the porch; carved roof bosses and a Norman font in the south aisle and rood stairs in the south wall; the rood screen is not original. Outside are two ancient cross heads and a handsome tall carved Cornish cross; and the St. Levan Stone, split in two and said to have been venerated in pre-Christian times. Most remarkable are the two lych gates. Both have seats and coffin rests, neither has a roof; both have coffen stiles, the top one open to prevent animals straying from the field above. If you leave by the lower lych gate and take the path to Porth Chapel, a popular family beach, you will encounter St. Levan's Well and Baptistry, just above the beach.
The upper lych gate leads to a path to Porthcurno
There is parking (small charge in season) just above the church
Notable modern features within the church are a granite and bronze low-relief, by local artist Judy Reed, of St. Levan blessing three sea bream (he was a keen fisherman) and modern carved commemorative bench ends, nicely continuing the Cornish tradition. The ancient bench ends in the church include one of two fish, presumably bream, one with a hook in its mouth, presumably caught by St. Levan.
St.
More in Churches & Holy Sites
St. Levan, St. Levan's Well and Baptistry in West Penwith
Levan's Well and Baptistry in West Penwith
St. Materiana
The two best things about Tintagel are the climb to the top of the 'Island' in search of King Arthur and the parish church of St. Materiana, both well away from the tawdry bustle of the tourist-trap village. Its siting is odd, stranded on a clifftop to the west of the town; a whole early settlement must have gone missing here. Inside, a simple Norman granite font stands on a most unusual plinth of small upright slates set in a checker pattern, almost as if architect Sir Edwin Lutyens had designed it as part of one of his unusual garden paths. Wood work in the church is unusual; the reredos appears to be made of old bench ends which carry carvings of the Passion and of local coats of arms. From the clifftop beyond the church you get a view of The Island on which Tintagel Castle stands. As you walk or drive along Church Hill on the way to St. Materiana's church, you pass Tintagel Vicarage, the tiny Fontevrault Chapel, converted from a barn, in its gatehouse, a dovecot in its garden. If you do drive, there are parking spaces close to the church. You can approach Tintagel Castle along the cliff from the church.
St. Materiana, Tintagel
Materiana, Tintagel