St Carantoc's Church, Crantock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Carantoc's Church, Crantock |
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| Crantock Church | |
St Carantoc's Church, Crantock
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| OS grid reference | SW 790 605 |
| Location | Crantock, Cornwall |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglican |
| Website | St Carantoc, Crantock |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Carantoc |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Slatestone and granite rubble with granite dressings Slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Crantock |
| Deanery | Pydar |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Carantoc's Church, also known as Crantock Church, is a beautiful old church located in the village of Crantock, Cornwall, England. It's a special place because it has been a Grade I listed building since 1951. This means it's considered a very important historic building. The church is still active today, serving as an Anglican parish church within the Church of England. It belongs to the diocese of Truro and is part of the archdeaconry of Cornwall.
Contents
History of Crantock Church
A church has stood on this spot for a very long time, even before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The first church here dates back to the 6th century, linked to St Carantoc. The Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, mentions that the Canons of St Carantoc's owned Crantock.
Early Church Building
The oldest parts of the church you see today were built in the Norman style. In 1224, the choir section was rebuilt, and a tower was added. Later, in the mid-13th century, a special type of church called a collegiate church was started here. This church had a Dean and nine prebendaries, who were like special priests.
Challenges and Changes
Over the years, the church faced many challenges. The college often didn't have enough money. Also, many of the priests, called canons, didn't live at the church. This meant the church wasn't always well looked after.
In 1377, the church needed a lot of repairs. The tower even collapsed onto the nave, which is the main part of the church, causing a lot of damage. People tried to raise money to fix it. A new tower was finally built at the west end of the church in 1412.
After the Monasteries Closed
When the monasteries were closed in England, the college at Crantock Church also shut down. For over 300 years, the church was neglected. The people who looked after it were paid very little.
However, things started to improve in the late 19th century. The church went through a big restoration, meaning it was repaired and improved. Another major restoration happened between 1902 and 1907, led by Edmund H. Sedding. Thanks to these efforts, the church became "the best adorned church in Cornwall," according to a historian named Charles Henderson in 1925.
Architecture and Design
St Carantoc's Church is built using local materials like slatestone and granite rubble. This means it's made from rough, broken pieces of stone. The roofs are made of slate.
Outside the Church
The church has a tower at the west end, a main area called the nave, and side sections called aisles. It also has north and south transepts, which are like arms extending from the main body, and a chancel near the altar. There's also a south porch for entry.
The tower has three levels, each getting a bit smaller as it goes up. It has strong corner supports called buttresses. The top of the tower has a decorative edge called a parapet with a battlement design, like a castle wall. You can see a clock face on the south side of the tower.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church walls are plastered, and the floor is made of slate. Some of the archways, called arcades, show Norman architecture style. In the north transept, there's a doorway from the 12th century that is now blocked up.
You'll find a piscina in the south aisle, which is a basin used for washing sacred vessels. The font, where baptisms take place, is very old, dating back to the 12th century. The communion rail is from the 17th century, and the wooden pulpit is from the 19th century.
The church has beautiful stained glass windows from the 19th century. There are also small pieces of even older, medieval glass in the sacristy, a room where sacred items are kept. The rood screen, a decorative partition, was carved in 1905. The church also has a silver chalice from 1576.
The church has a ring of six bells. Three of these bells were made in 1767, and the other three were cast in 1904.
Churchyard Features
The churchyard around St Carantoc's Church also has many interesting historical items. Several of these are listed as Grade II, meaning they are important historic objects.
These include a stone coffin from the medieval period and four old monuments. There's also a granite cross from the 19th century, set on an even older granite base. You can also see stocks from the 17th century, which were used to hold people as a form of punishment. These stocks are protected by a roof built in the 20th century. The lychgate, a covered entrance to the churchyard, was built in the late 19th century.
