Tregony, St. Cuby's Church
I had a busy last Saturday of March 2018, visiting three churches in the direction of Truro: St. Cuby, Tregony; St. Cornelius, Cornelly; and St. Keyne at Kenwyn on the northern outskirts of Truro. Tregony village, a nice place with most amenities including Post Office, shop and pub, is a long one street village on a steep hill from the infant River Fal up to the church at the very top of the hill. I had been inside Tregony church previously but, on this occasion I was there primarily for the inscribed stone built into the south-west corner of the south aisle. The inscription apparently reads "Nonnita ercilini rigati .....tris fili ercilini", but is very difficult to decipher. From the lych gate, an avenue of tombstones leads to the porch with its vaulted roof and door with elaborate ironwork. Inside are nave and south aisle. The royal coat of arms, unusually, is of James II. The font is late Norman, with heads at each corner, as at Bodmin. The hexagonal pulpit incorporates medieval bench ends, part of the reason there are no old ends on the present benches. A wall monument of 1644 commemorates Hugh Pomeroy. The organ casing incorporates a screen with paintings of saints. Attractive kneelers include one of roses, one of an RNLI lifeboat and one of sheep in a field.
The painted organ screen
Tregony Church
Bodmin type font
Photographs
More in Churches & Holy Sites
Tremaine
by coincidence, my first visit in the following September was to another St. Winwaloe's, this one just outside Tremaine, to the north of the road from Davidstow to Launceston. This is an unusual little church. Standing quarter of a mile to the north-west of Tremaine village it also stands on a lann, a raised, probably Celtic, site. It is a small, simple two-cell church, its nave and chancel totalling only 45 feet overall. Its stubby three-stage tower is buttressed and topped by crocketed pinnacles. The north wall dates from Norman times and has a small blocked doorway up a couple of steps. The church was partly rebuilt at the turn of the 13th century and windows were replaced at the turn of the 15th century. The interior has a charming simplicity. The 15th century wagon roof is ceiled and plastered with moulded ribs, a carved wall-plate and a variety of carved bosses. Windows vary; a simple two light window in the nave, a Gothick three-light window in the chancel. In the north wall a narrow flight of steps may have led to a former rood loft. The Norman font is circular with cable moulding. The chancel has dark marble paving and the simple altar is of dark stone.
Tresillian, Holy Trinity Church
Situated as it is on one angle of a double bend, Holy Trinity Church in Tresillian, on the road from St. Austell to Truro, is very easy to miss. However, if you can find somewhere to park, this small church is well worth a visit. You will, however, need to go to "A Church near you" to make arrangements for a visit, as Holy Trinity is firmly locked normally. I did make such arrangements and was pleased that I did so. Viewed from the road (best from the Truro direction) Holy Trinity is not unattractive, its nave topped by a triple bell-cote. Also from the road, do note the small Cornish Wayside Cross head below its (approximately) west front. Holy Trinity dates from 1904 and is by W D Carὅe in an Arts and Crafts style. While the exterior is perfectly pleasant, it is not outstanding, particularly as it can be difficult to see for traffic. What is important is the collection of fittings inside which were brought from the abandoned church at Merther, a couple of miles to the SSW of Tresillian. These include the 12th century octagonal-shafted Pentewan stone FONT; the 17th century polygonal Jacobean oak PULPIT with carved panels; the 15th century figure of ST. ANTHONY carved in Catacleuse stone; the wheel-head CORNISH CROSS which stands at the roadside in front of the church; and, of the trio of bells, prominent in the bell-cote above the end of the church, two are from Merther, the third from the detached bell-tower at Lamorran. More images of Holy Trinity, Tresillian
Tresillian, Holy Trinity Church
Tresillian, Jacobean Pulpit