St Andrew's Church, Calstock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Andrew's Church |
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St. Andrew's Church, after the grave stones were moved in 1967
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| Type | Church |
| Location | Calstock, Cornwall |
| Built | 14th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Church of St Andrew, Calstock | |
| Designated | 19 October 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1140252 |
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St Andrew's Church is an old and important church in Calstock, Cornwall. It was built a long time ago, in the 1300s. This church is so special that it's listed as a Grade I building, which means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
The church stands on a hill overlooking the town, right where a Roman fort was recently found. People believe the church was first officially opened around the year 1290. You can still see parts of the church, like the pillars and arches on the north side, that were built in the early 1300s.
Around 1420, a new section, called the south aisle, was added, and the whole church got a new roof. Over the years, the church was fixed up many times. However, in 1861, a report said the church was in "a sad state" with old, messy pews and lots of "rubbish."
This led to a big fix-up in 1867. A famous architect named James Piers St Aubyn led the work. He was known for restoring many churches in the West Country. During this time, the floor was changed, new tiles were laid, and the church got new wooden pews. Even with all these changes, many of the church's interesting old features were kept safe.
Outside the Church: What to See
When you look at the outside of St. Andrew's Church, you'll notice large granite blocks, especially in the tower and porch. These blocks usually mean that part of the church was built in the 1400s. The north and south walls seem to have been rebuilt at some point.
There's a small turret (a small tower) sticking out from the north wall, also from the 1400s. It holds a staircase that used to lead to a rood screen (a screen that separated parts of the church). East of this turret, you can see different stone, which marks the Edgcumb Chapel, built in 1558. The letters "R.E." for Richard Edgecumb are carved above its door.
The Tower: A Tall Landmark
The church tower is very tall and impressive, with three main sections and strong supports. It used to have pointy tops called pinnacles. In 1790, a big lightning storm hit the tower, knocking down some of its pinnacles and damaging the inside of the church.
The tower has a large stained glass window facing west. At the top of this window, you can see four crests (family symbols). One of them belongs to the Scorrer family, who owned the nearby Harewood Estate.
The Porch: Hidden Details
The church porch has some cool things to discover:
- In the northeast corner, you can see what's left of a holy water basin.
- There's a fireplace in the southwest corner! Fireplaces in church porches are very rare. No one is completely sure why it was there. It might have been used to light the Easter fire, or perhaps to help keep the church clean and prevent diseases from spreading.
- The stone floor at the entrance has tiny marks from brass nails. This suggests that a statue or a special tomb might have once been placed there.
The Churchyard: Stories in Stone
In the churchyard, at the eastern end, there's a granite cross marking the grave of Sir William Lewis Salusbury-Trelawny, 8th Baronet. He was a very important person who served as the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and was a Member of Parliament. He died in 1856 when he was 75 years old.
A local story says that Sir William loved his estate so much that he didn't want his body to leave it. So, he was carried through the back gate to his resting place, which is the closest spot to his home. Inside the church, near the pulpit, there are two special plaques:
- One plaque says "Lau Deo" (which means "Praise God"). Below it are the names of four of Sir William's children. Sadly, the oldest only lived to be 28.
- The other plaque shows a cross and says "Beneath The Cross." Below that, it shows Sir William and his wife, and then their fifth child, who died in middle age.
Many other gravestones in the churchyard tell stories of people who died in mining or other industrial accidents. Even though the church is in a quiet countryside area now, in the 1800s, it was surrounded by busy industries. People in the area worked in quarrying (cutting stone), making bricks, burning lime, building boats, and mining copper. There's even an old copper mine tunnel, called Wheal Trelawny, that runs under part of the churchyard!
You can also find the gravestone of two brothers named Shadrak. They decided to move to Canada to find work after the local Tamar Valley Mine closed. Sadly, they were among the 3,000 people on board the Titanic when it sank on its first trip.
The Edgcumb Chapel: A Family's Legacy
The Edgcumb Chapel is located at the eastern end of the northern part of the church. It holds two monuments from the late 1600s. These are for Piers Edgcumb (who died in 1666) and for Jemima, Countess of Sandwich (who died in 1674).
Images for kids
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St. Andrew's Church, after the grave stones were moved in 1967
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St. Andrew's church tower
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The arms of the Diocese, of which the Parish of Calstock belongs to, Diocese of Truro
