St Grada and Holy Cross Church, Grade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Grade |
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St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Grade
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| Location | Grade |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Grada & Holy Cross |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Ruan with St Grade |
| Deanery | Kerrier |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Diocese of Truro |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Grada & Holy Cross Church is a special church in Grade, Cornwall. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is very old and important. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it is protected because of its history. It became a listed building on July 10, 1957.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Church History
The area around the church was first called St Cross in 1261. By 1310, it was known as St Grada, Virgin. The church has a very old font from the 1200s. You can also see a special brass plaque inside. It remembers James Eryssy and his wife from 1522.
Building the Church: Old and New Parts
Some parts of the church are from the 1200s. The tower was built around 1400. The main parts of the church, called the nave and chancel, were rebuilt in 1862 and 1863. They used some of the original stone. An architect named Edward William Godwin designed the new parts.
The church is mostly made of rough stone. It also has large blocks of granite and a special rock called serpentine in the tower. The roofs are steep and covered with slate. The tower is at the west end of the church. It has two main sections.
Inside the Church: Special Gifts
The old font from the earlier church was kept. The pulpit, which is a raised stand for speaking, was a gift. It was made from serpentine and Caen by the Lizard Serpentine Company. The lectern, where readings are given, was a gift from Mr. Cox. He was an agent for the company. The church was ready for services again on July 24, 1863.
Adding the Organ
The money for rebuilding ran out in 1863. So, the organ room and a small room for the clergy were not built until 1882. These were also part of Godwin's original plans. The organ was built by Brewer and Co from Truro. A famous organ player, G R Sinclair, played the new organ for the first time on March 12, 1885. He was the organist at Truro Cathedral.
Lights, Camera, Action!
In 1966, St Grada's Church was used for filming! It appeared in an episode of the popular TV show Doctor Who. The episode was called The Smugglers.
Church Community: Parish Status
The villages of Grade, Ruan Major, and Ruan Minor joined together in 1934. They formed one area called Grade-Ruan. The old church of Ruan Major is now in ruins. St Grada & Holy Cross Church is part of a group of churches. This group includes:
- St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Grade
- St Wynwallow's Church, Landewednack
- St Rumon's Church, Ruan Minor
- St Mary's Church, Cadgwith
Images for kids
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Interior looking east
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Sanctuary
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The organ
