St Just in Penwith Parish Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Just in Penwith Parish Church, St. Just |
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St Just in Penwith Church, St. Just
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| 50°07′29″N 05°40′44″W / 50.12472°N 5.67889°W | |
| OS grid reference | SW371174 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Just (Yestin) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Just in Penwith, Cornwall |
| Deanery | Penwith |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Just in Penwith Parish Church is an old and important church in the Church of England. You can find it in the town of St Just in Penwith, which is in Cornwall, UK. This church is a special place for the local community.
Contents
History of St Just Church
This church is named after a saint called St Just. People also knew him as Justin or Yestin. He was the son of another saint, St Geraint. In 1478, a writer named William of Worcester said that the church held special items belonging to Saint Justus the Martyr.
The church building you see today is very old, dating back to the 15th century. This means it was built in the 1400s! Before that, there was an even older church on this spot. A church built in 1334 was officially opened on July 13, 1336. The Bishop of Exeter, John Grandisson, led this special event.
In 1355, a knight named Sir John de Beaupre gave the church and its lands to Glasney College. This college was a religious school at the time. In the past, there were also smaller chapels nearby. These included a chapel for St Helen at Cape Cornwall and one for St Michael on Chapel Carn Brea.
What the Church Looks Like
The St Just church is quite large and built from strong granite blocks. Both the main part of the church and its tall tower were built in the 15th century. The tower has three main sections, making it stand out.
The sides of the church, called aisles, have a similar design. They feature windows that switch between two different patterns. Inside, the arches are supported by pillars made of limestone. The font, which is a basin used for baptisms, is modern. However, it looks like it could be from the 14th century.
You can still see two old wall paintings inside the church. They have been repaired many times over the years. One painting shows Saint George fighting a dragon. The other painting warns people not to break the Sabbath, which is a day of rest.
Ancient Discoveries and Crosses
One very old item found here is the Selus Stone. Experts believe it was made around the late 400s or early 500s. It has a Latin message carved into it that says Selus Ic Iacet. This means "Selus lies here." People think this refers to Salomon of Cornwall, also known as Saint Selevan.
In 1896, a person named Arthur Langdon wrote about seven stone crosses in the area around St Just. Two of these crosses were in the vicarage garden, and two others were in Kenidjack Valley. Another cross was built right into the church wall. You can also find crosses at places called Leswidden and Nanquidno. There is even a Cornish cross in the vicarage garden of Pendeen.
Remembering Owen Boyle
There is a special window in the church that remembers a young man named Owen Boyle. He was an 18-year-old lighthouse keeper. On October 25, 1877, he tragically lost his life at the Longships Lighthouse. A huge wave swept him into the sea. Owen was the fifth person to die at this lighthouse since it was finished in 1873. The beautiful glass for this memorial window was made by a company in Dublin in April 1879.
Gallery
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The south porch and sundial
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The high altar with the reredos of alabaster with fourteen Cornish saints
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The Lady chapel in the south aisle
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The organ
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A Fresco-secco in St Just in Penwith Parish Church. This painting was created in the 15th century and depicts Saint George fighting the dragon
