St Columba's Church, St Columb Minor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Columb Minor Church |
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| 50°25′18″N 05°02′35″W / 50.42167°N 5.04306°W | |
| OS grid reference | SW839624 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Protestant |
| Churchmanship | Anglican |
| History | |
| Dedication | Columba of Cornwall |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | English Gothic |
| Style | Gothic, Norman |
| Years built | The Church Tower (15th Century) |
| Specifications | |
| Tower height | 115 Feet (35m) |
| Materials | Slatestone rubble with granite dressings. |
| Bells | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Civil: Newquay Ecclesiastical: St Columb Minor |
| Benefice | St Columb Minor with St Colan |
| Deanery | Pydar |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Columb Minor Church is an old church in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It was built a long time ago, in the late 1400s. It's a Church of England parish church, meaning it serves the local community in St Columb Minor.
Contents
History of the Church Site
The place where St Columb Minor Church stands is very old. It might have been an ancient burial mound where people held pagan ceremonies. The spot is protected from strong Atlantic winds. It also offers views of the Rialton valley and Castle-an-Dinas, an old hill fort.
Long ago, Celtic missionaries came here. They replaced the old pagan traditions with Christian worship. They built the first wooden church on this spot. Over time, the village grew around the church.
Who Was St Columba?
Both St Columb Minor and St Columb Major churches are named after Columba of Cornwall. However, there are no old records that explain who she was. Some historians think she might have been a French saint. Another idea is that a saint named Crantoc called his helpers "Columba," which means "doves." These churches might have been named after his missionaries.
Building the Church Through Time
The first church was likely replaced many times. Around 1100 A.D., a Norman church was built. You can still see parts of its old foundations today. This church probably had small windows and a low arch.
Around the mid-1100s, a new church was built. It had aisles that went all the way to the chancel (the area around the altar). This church was first mentioned in 1283. At that time, it was a smaller chapel connected to a larger church in Crantock.
In 1417, the Bishop of Exeter noticed that the chancel was falling apart. It had to be rebuilt right away. Around 1430, the main parts of the church, called nave arcades, were rebuilt. They used stone from Beer and Cornish granite.
Around 1470, the church was made even bigger. The side aisles were extended to be as long as the chancel.
The Tower and Other Features
The church's tall bell tower was built in the 1400s. It is the second highest tower in Cornwall, standing 115 feet (35 meters) tall. In the past, you could see it from far across the parish and even from the sea.
Inside the church, there were once three altars. They were dedicated to St. Columba, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Trinity, and St. Michael. During a restoration in 1886, special stone basins called piscinas were found. These were used for washing sacred vessels at the altars.
The church used to have a beautiful screen, which was a work of art from 1595. Sadly, it was destroyed in 1795. Some small pieces can still be seen today. The original church seats, also from 1595, had carved ends. Most of these were also destroyed, but one is still kept in the North aisle.
The stone baptismal font was made around 1450. It looks like older Norman fonts. The church porch, with its stone benches, also dates back to around 1450.
The Royal Arms inside the church are very large and colorful. They date back to the time of King Charles II. There are also old slate memorial slabs for people like Elizabeth Pollamounter and Roger Ellery.
Church Restorations
The church has been restored twice over the years.
First Restoration (1795)
In 1795, the old screen was cut up and used for floorboards. The main part of the church was filled with new wooden box pews. A gallery was added at the back for workers. The names of people who donated money for this work are written on a board in the belfry.
In 1840, the old East window was removed and a new one was put in. Some pieces of the colorful glass from this Victorian window are now in the North aisle. A holy water basin, called a stoup, was also moved outside the church around this time.
Second Restoration (1884-1886)
By 1884, the church was in very bad condition. It was damp, with mold on the walls, and had a lot of dry rot. The churchyard was also not well kept.
Another big Victorian restoration began in 1884. Unfortunately, the people doing the work made some changes that were not ideal. They lowered the floor of the nave and raised the chancel floor. This buried the bases of the pillars. New wooden seats were put in, and a new roof was added. The church was reopened on September 23, 1886. The Bishop of Truro, George Wilkinson, gave a sermon that morning.
Special Features of the Church
The Pulpit
The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, is a beautiful piece of work. It was given to the church in 1935 by J. Knight in memory of his daughter. The original stone pulpit from the church was moved to a chapel nearby, but that chapel was later torn down, and the old pulpit is now lost.
The Altar Table
An oak altar table was given by Mrs. and Dr. Stephens. It is in memory of Mr. Alexander Stephens, who was a churchwarden for many years. Inside this altar table is a very rare and special portable altar. It dates back to 1415 and is in perfect condition. There are very few other examples like it.
The Clock
The church clock was given in 1910 in memory of Reverend A. Langford. It was dedicated on November 4, 1910, and started at exactly three o'clock. People at the time said the chimes were "sweet." The clock face shows the Langford family's coat of arms. This clock looks like very old clocks found in places like Hexham Abbey and Castle Rushen.
The Bells
The church has a set of eight bells that can be rung together.
See also
