Sancreed Parish Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sancreed Parish Church |
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Sancreed Parish Church
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| 50°06′29″N 5°36′34″W / 50.10808°N 5.60945°W | |
| OS grid reference | SW371174 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Penwith |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
Sancreed Parish Church is a special old church in Sancreed, a village in Cornwall, England. It's part of the Church of England and belongs to the Diocese of Truro. This church is so important that it's listed as a Grade II building, meaning it's protected because of its history and unique design.
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About Sancreed Church
Sancreed Parish Church is known for keeping old traditions alive. Unlike many churches today that use a newer service book called Common Worship, Sancreed still uses the traditional Book of Common Prayer. This book has been used for hundreds of years. It helps the church keep its long-standing customs. You can attend a service there every Sunday at 9:30 AM.
Church History and Design
Sancreed Parish Church is right in the middle of the village. It is named after St Sancredus. The church is built from strong granite stone. Some parts of the building are very old, dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
The church was first built in a shape like a cross. Today, it has a tall, plain tower on the west side. It also has a north transept, which is a part of the church that sticks out. There is also a south aisle, added in the 15th century, with five sections.
Special Features Inside
Inside the church, you can see some amazing old features. One is the beautiful font, which is a basin used for baptisms. It was made in the 14th century and has carved angels holding shields.
Another interesting part is the wooden rood screen from the 15th century. This screen separates the main part of the church from the altar area. It has unique carvings at its base. You can still see tiny bits of the original paint on them.
Church Restoration and Art
Much of the church was repaired and updated in 1881. An architect named J D Sedding led the work. A builder from Liskeard, Mr. Bone, did the construction. A newspaper called The Cornishman wrote about the changes. It said the old church looked "hoary and depressing." But it also mentioned that the church had some good carved wood. This wood was likely used in the restoration.
The church and its churchyard became a favorite spot for artists. Painters from the Newlyn School of Art often visited. Some of these artists even went to church there regularly. Famous painter Stanhope Forbes RA is buried in the churchyard.
Ancient Crosses in the Churchyard
Sancreed Churchyard is famous for its five 'Celtic' crosses. These are old granite crosses from the Middle Ages. They were once used as markers along paths. Two of the tall crosses were made to be churchyard crosses. The other three were originally wayside crosses from the 12th or 13th century. They were later moved to the churchyard from other parts of Sancreed Parish.
The five crosses include:
- A 10th-century churchyard cross.
- A 13th-century churchyard cross. This one sits on what might be a 7th-century base.
- The cross from Trannack.
- The Sellan Cross.
- The Anjarden Cross.
The 13th-century churchyard cross is very large. It stands about 9 feet tall, though some of it is buried. It is right next to the path that goes from the church porch to the southeast gate. The cross has carvings on all sides. The quality of these carvings is outstanding. Many people believe it is one of the finest carved Celtic crosses in Cornwall.
Recent Church Improvements
Work to replace the church roof started in 2017. This project was possible thanks to a large grant. The Heritage Lottery Fund gave £227,100. Other charities also donated more than £11,000.
