St Ia's Church, St Ives facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Ives Parish Church, Cornwall |
|
|---|---|
St Ia's Church, St Ives
|
|
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Ia of Cornwall |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Ives |
| Deanery | Penwith |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Ia's Church is a beautiful old church in St Ives, Cornwall, UK. It is a parish church that belongs to the Church of England. The church is named after Ia of Cornwall, a special saint from the 5th or 6th century. This church is so important that it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very old and special building that needs to be protected.
Contents
The Church's History and Design
The church is named after Saint Ia the Virgin. She was a holy woman from Ireland. The building you see today was built a long time ago, during the time of King Henry V of England. Construction started around 1410 and finished in 1434.
At first, it was a smaller church called a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a handy place for people to worship, as St Ives was part of a larger parish called Lelant. In 1826, it became a full Church of England parish church.
Key Features of the Church
The church's tower is made of granite and is very tall, over 80 feet high! It has four main sections. The church is quite large, but not super tall. Its style is more like churches found in Devon than typical Cornish churches.
Around the year 1500, the Trenwith family added an extra aisle on the south side. This area is now called the Lady Chapel. You can find a special statue there made by the famous artist Barbara Hepworth.
The font, which is used for baptisms, is also made of granite. It was likely made in the 15th century. It has carvings of four angels holding shields. Inside the chancel, which is the area near the altar, you can see old wooden benches. Some of these benches have special carvings.
The Church Organ
The church has a large pipe organ that was first installed in 1831. Over the years, it has been repaired and improved many times. Telford and Telford restored it in 1859, and Hele & Co worked on it in 1907. More recently, Lance Foy restored it in 1993. You can find out more about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
The Churchyard Cross
Outside the church, in the churchyard, there is an old stone cross. It is called a "lantern cross" and dates back to the late medieval period. This cross is ten-and-a-half feet tall and stands on an eight-sided base.
