St Hilary's Church, St Hilary, Cornwall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Hilary Church, St Hilary |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | High Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Hilary of Poitiers |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Hilary, Cornwall |
| Deanery | Penwith |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Hilary is a very old church located in the village of St Hilary, Cornwall, England. It was built in a style called "Early English," which was popular in the 1200s. The church has a tower that dates back to the 13th century. In 1853, a fire damaged parts of the church. Two years later, the church was rebuilt by an architect named William White. This church is named after Saint Hilary of Poitiers and is considered a very important historical building, known as a Grade I listed building.
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Ancient Discoveries at St Hilary
Roman Milestone and Crosses
During the rebuilding of the church in 1854, something amazing was found! Workers discovered a Roman milestone in the church's foundations. This milestone is now placed in the south aisle of the church. It has an inscription that mentions the Roman emperor Constantine the Great.
The churchyard around St Hilary Church is also home to ancient crosses. You can find both British and Roman crosses there. One Cornish cross in the churchyard has a Latin cross design on both sides. There is another cross located nearby on Trewhela Lane.
St Hilary in the 20th Century
Artistic Decorations in the Church
In 1912, Bernard "Ber" Walke became the Vicar of St Hilary. He served as the priest from 1913 to 1936. Even though the church was rebuilt in 1853, it didn't have much decoration inside. Bernard's wife, Annie Walke, was an artist. She and her friends from the "Lamorna Group" of the Newlyn School were asked to decorate the church.
These artists created beautiful altarpieces, panels, and other artworks for the church. Some of their paintings showed the lives of saints from Cornwall. Annie Walke painted a picture of Joan of Arc that was placed near the south door. Ernest Procter created a work featuring St Mawes, St Kevin, and St Neot for the pulpit. He also made a reredos (a screen behind the altar) for the Altar of the Dead.
Many artists contributed to the church's beauty. Annie, Dod and Ernest Procter, Gladys Hynes, Alethea and Norman Garstin, and Harold Knight all painted pictures for the sides of the church stalls. Phyllis ("Pog") Yglesias made the crucifix on the north wall. Nearby, you can see a reredos by Roger Fry. Even 12-year-old Joan Manning Saunders painted pictures for a screen in the chancel area.
Restoring the Church's Beauty
In the 1930s, some of the church's new decorations were unfortunately damaged. On August 8, 1932, a group of people broke into the church. They removed or destroyed many of the fittings and furnishings that Father Bernard Walke had helped to install.
More recently, many of these damaged items have been restored. The church has worked to bring back its special and peaceful atmosphere. The church continues to raise money to keep the building in good condition. They are also hoping to repair the church bells, which are currently awaiting restoration.
St Hilary Heritage Centre
Exploring Local History
Beneath the school room at St Hilary Church, you can find the St Hilary Heritage Centre. This centre has interesting displays about the local history of the area. You can learn about the history of St Hilary, going all the way back to the Roman times.
The exhibits cover many topics, including mining, people moving away from the area (emigration), and the famous Newlyn School paintings. You can also learn about the Cornish language and the history of the church itself. The Heritage Centre shares the fascinating story of St Hilary and its connections to St Michael's Mount.
The church has special links with the artistic and literary history of West Cornwall, especially with the Newlyn Artists. Families like the Procters, Harveys, Knights, Garstins, and Walkes were all part of the unique plan to decorate the church. This artistic work helped the church earn its Grade I listing. The Heritage Centre is usually open from May to the end of September, on Wednesdays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
