St Hermes' Church, St Erme facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Hermes’ Church, St Erme |
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St Hermes’ Church, St Erme
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| 50°18′33.480″N 5°1′33.204″W / 50.30930000°N 5.02589000°W | |
| Location | St Erme |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Hermes |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Erme |
| Deanery | Powder |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Diocese of Truro |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Hermes' Church is a historic parish church in the village of St Erme, Cornwall, England. It is part of the Church of England's Diocese of Truro. Because of its special historical importance, it is a Grade II* listed building, which means it is protected by law.
Contents
History of the Church
There is some debate about who the church was originally named after. Some historians, like Gilbert Hunter Doble, believe it was first dedicated to a local saint named Erme. They think the name was later changed to honor Saint Hermes, a Greek saint.
Rebuilding and Restoration
Most of the church you see today was rebuilt between 1819 and 1820 by an architect named John Foulston. However, the church tower is much older and dates back to the medieval period.
In 1906, the church had a major restoration.
- The tower was strengthened with new floors and a new roof.
- The bells were recast, and the church now has a full peal of six bells.
- A new south doorway was built using Polyphant stone, a special type of local stone.
- New oak doors and new windows in the bell tower were also added.
Not everyone was happy with the 1820 rebuilding. The historian Charles Henderson wrote that the church had become very run-down. He felt that the new design did not fit well with the older parts of the building.
One important figure in the church's history was Cornelius Cardew. He was the rector (the priest in charge of the parish) for 60 years and died in 1831. You can still see a portrait of him inside the church.
Historic Treasures Inside
Inside the church, you can find some fascinating historical objects.
- The Font: The font, which is used for baptisms, is Norman. This means it was made during the Norman period (1066-1154) and is over 900 years old.
- The Trencreek Brass: There is a brass plaque from 1596. It was made to remember Robert Trencreek and his family.
Monuments in the Churchyard
In the churchyard, you can find two important monuments for the Trethewy family. These are also Grade II listed for their historical value.
The first monument is for Catherine Trethewy, who died on July 29, 1792.
The second monument remembers several other family members:
- Anthony Trethewy, who died on August 6, 1799.
- His wife, Elizabeth Trethewy, who died on May 7, 1805.
- Their son, Anthony, who died on July 2, 1801.
- Their daughter, Amy, who died on July 28, 1804.
Parish Information
St Hermes' Church is part of a larger group of parishes that work together. This group, or benefice, also includes:
- St Crida's Church, Creed
- St Nun's Church in Grampound
- St Ladoca's Church, Ladock
- St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus
The Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ that was built in 1927 by the company Hele & Co. More details about this specific organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
