St Brevita's Church, Lanlivery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Brevita's Church |
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St Brevita's Church
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 St Brevita's Church
Location in Cornwall
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| 50°24′00″N 04°42′14″W / 50.40000°N 4.70389°W | |
| Location | Lanlivery, Cornwall |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Bryvyth/Brevita |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 14th-15th centuries |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 95 feet (29 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Lanlivery |
| Archdeaconry | Bodmin |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Brevita's Church is a very old church in Lanlivery, Cornwall. It's part of the Church of England. The church was built a long time ago, between the 14th and 15th centuries. It's known for its special "Perpendicular Gothic" style.
The church is dedicated to a saint named Bryvyth, also called Brevita. Not much is known about her, and her story is unique to this church. The church building is so important that it's officially listed as a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very special historic place.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Church
This church started being built in the late 1300s. Many parts, like the south aisle, porch, and tower, were added or changed in the mid-1400s.
Who Was Saint Bryvyth?
The church is named after Saint Bryvyth, or Brevita. She is a bit of a mystery! No other churches are dedicated to her. We don't know much about her life. Old records from the 1400s and 1500s mention her name in different ways. One old document even said she was male, but most sources believe she was female.
People used to celebrate Saint Bryvyth's special day in early May. There's also a holy well nearby that's dedicated to her. The local community still celebrates her day by decorating this well.
What the Church Looked Like Long Ago
In 1858, a writer named Samuel Lewis described St Brevita's Church. He called it a "handsome structure of granite." He noted its tall tower with fancy tops, and its two large sections separated by columns.
A Stop on the Saints' Way
The Saints' Way is an old walking path for pilgrims. It goes right through Lanlivery and includes St Brevita's Church as a stop.
The Church Today: A Community Hub
In recent years, the church has become more than just a place for worship. The local community has opened a library inside the church. They've also updated the building to make it a better place for everyone. Now, the church hosts concerts, gardening projects, and holiday events for the whole community.
St Brevita's Church works together with several other churches in the area. These include churches in Boconnoc, St Winnow, St Veep, Braddock, and Lostwithiel.
What the Church Looks Like Inside and Out
St Brevita's Church is built in the "Perpendicular" style, which is a type of Perpendicular Gothic architecture. It's made from strong granite stone. The oldest parts are from the late 1300s, but most of what you see today was built in the 1400s. In the 1800s, the church was fixed up. This is when the current seats and the pulpit (where the priest speaks) were added. Inside, you can also see many memorials from the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s.
The Church Organ
The church has an organ that was built in 1888. It wasn't always here, though! It was moved to St Brevita's Church in 1994 from another building in St Blazey.
The Bells of the Tower
The church tower holds a set of 8 bells. These bells can be rung together to create beautiful music.
Old Monuments and Graves
The churchyard around St Brevita's Church has many old monuments and gravestones. About 222 of these are so important that they are listed as Grade II historic monuments. This means they are also special and protected.
Here are some of the interesting monuments you can find:
- A large stone tomb for the Kendall family, from the late 1600s or early 1700s.
- A stone coffin, probably from the 1600s, which might have been moved from inside the church.
- Three gravestones from the early 1800s, decorated with carvings of angels.
- The grave of a married couple, John and Grace Siers, from the late 1700s and early 1800s.
- The grave of Benjamin Sturtridge from 1768, which has many interesting symbols carved into it.
- Two other large stone tombs from the 1700s, made of granite and other stones, but it's hard to read who they belong to.
