St Colanus' Church, Colan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colan Church |
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Saint Colan Church
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 Colan Church
Location in Cornwall
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| 50°24′46.2″N 5°00′6.5″W / 50.412833°N 5.001806°W | |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | http://www.colan-church.org |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Colan |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Medieval |
| Years built | 13th Century Extended between the 14th & 15th Century |
Colan Church, also known as St Colan Church, is a very old church in Colan, in the middle of Cornwall, UK. It was built in the 1200s. The church is named after St Colanus, a saint.
In 1967, it became a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected. Priests from St Columb Minor have looked after Colan Church since the mid-1900s.
Contents
Where is Colan Church?
The church is located between the towns of St Columb Major and Newquay. It's not on a main road, so it's in a quiet, peaceful spot.
It sits by the Ryalton Stream in a remote area. This place is full of interesting plants and animals. The area around St Colan Church is called the Pydar deanery, which is a church district.
A Look at Colan Church's History
How the Church Began
Many people believe that Walter Bronscombe, who was the Bishop of Exeter, had the current church built around 1250. He later made rules for this church, similar to those he set for Exeter Cathedral.
The church was officially named after St Collen (or St Colanus) on July 14, 1336. This was done by John Grandisson, another Bishop of Exeter. Some people think St Collen himself built the first church on this spot.
There are two other churches named after St Collen. One is St Collen’s in Llangollen, North Wales. The other is at Langolen near Quimper in Brittany, France. St Collen was said to be the leader of the church here before he left to teach in other places.
Restoring the Church
By 1876, the church was in bad shape. The roof was leaning, and the tower was held together with metal bands. Inside, the walls were damp, and the pews (church benches) were very tall.
In 1876, Colan Church became part of the Diocese of Truro. This is a church area led by the Bishop of Truro. The main tower of the church was rebuilt in 1879.
By 1887, the church was fully repaired and looked new again. This was thanks to the hard work of the local priest and a person named Paget Hoblyn. In 1967, the church was officially recognized as a Grade I Listed Building.
Colan Church's Design
Colan Church is a parish church, which means it serves the local community. It was first built in a cross shape. Later, in the 1400s, it was made bigger.
The church was built using Slatestone and granite rocks. The top part of the tower is made of smooth granite blocks. The lower part has bands of darker stones. The tower has two levels.
The roof is made of slate tiles and has decorative ridges and cross shapes at the ends. It is shaped like a wagon inside and has carved decorations.
Inside the Church
The south wall still has stairs that once led to a rood screen (a screen that separated parts of the church). A room on the south side of the church is part of the main church area.
There are windows on the south side, some with pointed arches. The main part of the church, called the chancel, has two windows on the south and three facing east. The north side has two parts, with a higher roof on the eastern side.
The windows on the east side have two sections. The western part of the church has three-section windows with different patterns. The far west end has a two-section window. The south side also has a two-section window.
The entrance porch has a tiled floor and granite benches along the sides. The main hall and walls are covered in plaster. The side aisle has been rebuilt with an archway.
Doors and Entrances
The north door has special metal hinges and a four-pointed arch. On the east side, there is another arched doorway with a space that might have held a statue long ago. An old doorway has been changed into a window on the south side. There is a wooden gate at the entrance to the porch.
What's Inside and Around the Church?
Church Features
The church used to have an eight-sided stone font (a basin for baptisms) with fancy carvings. Now, only a beautiful screen from this font remains. There is also a chest in the main hall with carved designs.
In 1884, a special stained-glass window was put in the east side of the church. It shows the Ascension, which is when Jesus went up to heaven. This window was a gift to honor a priest who served the church for 34 years.
Another stained-glass window in the tower honors Reverend Mathew Nixon Broughman. He was a priest here from 1872 to 1881. This window shows symbols of the Four Gospels (books from the Bible). It also has the symbols of the Truro and Exeter church areas. The window also shows:
- Saint Mary, who is the patron saint of Truro Cathedral.
- St Colan, holding the church in his hands.
- St Peter, who is the patron saint of Exeter Cathedral.
Special Memorials
There are two interesting metal plaques, called monumental brasses, in the church.
- One is on the north wall and shows Francis Bluet and his wife Elizabeth Colan. It's dated May 20, 1572. It shows them standing with their family symbol, and below them are figures of their thirteen sons and nine daughters.
- The second plaque is on the south wall and belongs to John Coswarth. He was an important official for the Duchy of Cornwall in 1575. This plaque used to be on the floor.
The Coswarth plaque has a bullet hole in it! There are two stories about how it got there:
- One story says that a supporter of Oliver Cromwell (a famous English leader) shot at the plaque.
- Another story says that a man who was rejected by a lady shot at her during her wedding to someone else. The bullet missed her and hit the plaque instead. You can still see the bullet hole today!
The Church Grounds
The church grounds include a graveyard. At the southern entrance to the churchyard, there is a lychgate, which is a covered gateway.
Monuments and Crosses
- About 8 meters (26 feet) south of the tower is the Thomas Monument. It's a rectangular slate stone with carved columns. It says "Death spares none" and has verses for Alice Thomas, dated 1826.
- At the back of the churchyard, there is a war memorial. It honors the men from the area who died fighting in World War I and World War II.
- Near this memorial is a 15th-century Gothic cross. This cross was lost for many years. In 1908, a doctor found it near a hedge. After some discussion, the cross was finally placed in the churchyard in 1970.
- There is also a sundial (a device that tells time using the sun) with a slate pointer, dated 1724.
Images for kids
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Saint Colan Church
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Floorplan from 1885
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The church's gate
