St Breage's Church, Breage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Breaca’s Church, Breage |
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St Breage’s Church, Breage
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| 50°06′29.46″N 5°19′55.42″W / 50.1081833°N 5.3320611°W | |
| Location | Breage |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Breaca |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Breage with Godolphin and Ashton |
| Deanery | Kerrier |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Diocese of Truro |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
Breage Parish Church is a very old and important church in the village of Breage, Cornwall, England. It is a Christian church. The church is named after Saint Breaca, who was an Irish nun. People believe she came to Cornwall a very long time ago, in the 400s.
Contents
Exploring St Breaca's Church
The church was built in the 1400s using strong granite stone. Inside, it has a main area called the nave. On each side of the nave are two aisles. These areas are separated by beautiful granite arches.
Amazing Wall Paintings
On the north wall of the church, you can see five old wall paintings. These paintings are from the Middle Ages. Four of them show different saints: Saint Ambrose, Saint Christopher, Saint Corentine, and Saint Hilary. There are also some other small pieces of paintings.
One of the most special paintings is called Warning to the Sabbath-Breakers. This painting shows a "Sunday Christ." It's one of the best examples of this type of painting in the whole country. Another great example is found nearby in St Just.
Ancient Stones and Crosses
Inside the church, there is a Roman milestone from the 200s AD. This stone has an old writing on it. It mentions a Roman Emperor named Postumus.
In the churchyard, outside the church, you can find a unique cross head. It's called a Hiberno-Saxon cross head. This means it has designs from both Irish and Anglo-Saxon styles.
Church Restoration and Family Vault
The church was repaired and made better in 1879. The area where the choir sits was made larger. The roof was fixed, and the walls were plastered. The church also holds the burial vault of the Godolphin family, a very old and important local family.
A Look Back: History of the Church
After the Norman Conquest, which happened in 1066, the church in Breage was important to three powerful lords. These were the Bishop of Exeter, the Earl of Cornwall, and the Earl of Gloucester.
Church Ownership Changes
In the 1100s, the Earl of Gloucester gave the church to Tewkesbury Abbey. However, he didn't have the full right to do this. So, after 86 years, the Earl of Cornwall stepped in. He then gave the church to Hailes Abbey instead.
Dependent Chapels
For a long time, until the 1800s, Breage Parish had a special feature. It had smaller churches, called chapels, that depended on it. These chapels were in Germoe, Cury, and Gunwalloe. The last two were added to Breage Parish in 1246 by the Earl.
The Church Organ
The organ in St Breaca's Church has an interesting history. It was first built by a company called Henry Willis and Sons for a person named Thomas Robins Bolitho.
Later, this organ was moved to Truro Cathedral. Then, in 1968, it was rebuilt and brought to Breage by a company called Hele & Co from Plymouth. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
Gallery
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St. Breaca's church
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View of the church
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Church tower
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Church porch
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Sundial over doorway of the porch
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Churchyard
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Ancient cross in churchyard
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Nave
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Altar
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Frescos
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Frescos
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Fresco of St. Christopher
