St Gregory's Church, Treneglos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Gregory’s Church, Treneglos |
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St Gregory’s Church, Treneglos
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| Location | Treneglos |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Gregory |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Treneglos |
| Deanery | Stratton |
| Archdeaconry | Bodmin |
| Diocese | Diocese of Truro |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Gregory's Church in Treneglos, Cornwall, is a very old and important church. It's part of the Church of England and is considered a special historical building. It has a "Grade II* listed" status, which means it's a really important building that needs to be protected.
Contents
History of the Church
The land where the church stands belonged to a man named Robert Fitz-William in the 1100s. He was the Lord of Downinney. Robert gave this land to a religious house called Tywardreath Priory.
Originally, a nearby place called Warbstow had a small chapel that depended on Treneglos. Later, these two church areas joined together. Robert Fitz-William was also the person who built the first church here.
Changes Over Time
The church became bigger in the 1400s or 1500s.
- A special arch was added to the north door.
- A new section, called a north aisle, was built. This part had fancy window designs.
- A staircase was added near the east end. This staircase led up to a "rood loft," which was a platform above the main part of the church.
In the 1500s, a south porch was built. This porch has an arch over the south door. Above this arch, there is a very old stone carving called a "tympanum." This carving and the church's font (a basin for baptisms) might have been made by the same artist. This artist also worked on churches in Egloskerry and Tremaine.
The Norman Tympanum
The carved stone tympanum is from the Norman period (around 1066-1154). It shows a tree in the middle. On each side of the tree, there are two animals facing each other. Their tails are curved around their legs and over their bodies. Experts think this carving might be a picture from the Bible, like a verse from the Psalms about a vine and wild animals.
Later Years
In the 1600s, there were very few Roman Catholics left in Cornwall. A record from 1671 mentioned only a few people in Treneglos who still followed that faith. In the early 1800s, a vicar named J. H. Mason was in charge of the church. He was chosen by the Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV.
The church was rebuilt in 1858. It is dedicated to two saints: St George and St Gregory. The church has a main hall (nave), a special area for the altar (chancel), and the north aisle. Four arches on granite pillars separate the nave from the north aisle. The old tympanum and font were kept safe during the rebuilding. In 1871, the church's tower was also rebuilt. By 1872, the church areas of Warbstow and Treneglos were joined into one. The Duke of Cornwall was the main supporter of the church at that time. In 1960, the church was officially listed as a Grade II building, recognizing its historical importance.
Churches in the Parish
St Gregory's Church is part of a group of churches. This means they work together. The other churches in this group are:
- St Werburgh's Church, Warbstow
- St Winwaloe's Church, Poundstock
- St Anne's Church, Whitstone
- Our Lady and St Anne's Church, Widemouth Bay
- St Gennys' Church, St Gennys
- St James' Church, Jacobstow
- St Mary the Virgin's Church, Week St Mary
The Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ that was built in 1993. It was made by a person named Mervyn Uglow. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
