Withiel Revisited

The most unusual thing about St. Clement's church is that, as you approach it from the east, it stands high above you on a site that was probably a pre-Christian lann site. The tower is striking; in three stages, it is crowned by tall crocketed pinnacles; a stair turret hides on the north-east side. The earliest part of the present church is the 13th century tall, narrow north door, long out of use. Nave and chancel appear to be 14th century. A north chancel, of the same period, was probably originally a chantry for the Brevill family. A south aisle was added in the early 16th century; it bears the arms of Prior Vivian of Bodmin. You enter through a porch carrying a sundial below a small elaborate cross. The porch is entered through a four-centre arch and has a wagon roof with a couple of carved bosses. Above the door to the body of the church is a tympanum with a carved shield; to the right of the door is a holy water stoup. Inside, the south aisle arcade has a carved wagon roof, the nave and chancel have plain wagon roofs. Unlike nearby St. Wenn, which has lost its bench pews, St. Clement's still has its. Several features about St. Clement's stand out: the font, believed to date from 1476, has an octagonal bowl with carved panels and the stem, too, is elaborately carved. Behind the font are painted gothic panels carrying the ten commandments and other texts. The organ is as colourful as any I have seen, painted vivid blue and gold. Windows have fragments of stained glass, including a fragment with the arms of Prior Vyvyan. A slate headstone dated 1811, remembers Henry Vyvyan. In the churchyard, 19th century gates are of cast iron.

Withiel Pulpit

Withiel Porch Roof Boss

Withiel Font Shaft

Zennor, St.