St Mabyn Parish Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mabyn Parish Church |
|
|---|---|
St. Mabyn Parish Church, St.Mabyn
|
|
| 50°31′32″N 4°45′50″W / 50.52556°N 4.76389°W | |
| OS grid reference | SX 042 732 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | St Mabyn Church website |
| History | |
| Dedication | Mabyn |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mabyn, Cornwall |
| Deanery | Trigg Minor |
| Archdeaconry | Bodmin |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mabyn Church is a very old church in St Mabyn, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It was built in the late 1400s and is part of the Church of England. The church is named after Saint Mabyn (also called Mabena). People in the area believed she was one of the many children of Brychan. He was a Welsh saint and king from the 5th century.
Contents
History of St Mabyn Church
The church you see today replaced an even older church. That first church was also named after Saint Mabyn. A very old book from the 12th century, called Life of Saint Nectan, mentions Mabyn. This shows that the first church was already there a long time ago.
Building the Church
Experts have studied the wood used in the church. They found that the north side was built between 1513 and 1535. The main part of the church (the nave) was built from 1485 to 1514. The porch, which is the entrance, was built between 1487 and 1523. When the church was officially opened, a special song was sung for Saint Mabyn.
The church is built in a style called Perpendicular. This was a popular building style in England during the late Middle Ages. It might even have some parts from an older Norman church. The church has a main area, a chancel (where the altar is), and aisles on the north and south sides.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the church has had some changes. In 1818, some old monuments were moved. Later, in 1884, the church was repaired and updated. In 1889, new seats were added, and the floor was redone. The building is made from slate stone. Its roof is also made of slate. Inside, there are granite arches supported by granite pillars.
Church Tower and Features
The church has a tall tower, about 85 feet high. It has a special top with battlements and pointy decorations. The top part of the tower has four carved figures. These might be the Four Evangelists, who wrote parts of the Bible.
Inside the church, you can find a piscina. This was a special basin used to clean sacred items after church services. There are also remains of stairs that once led to a rood loft. This was a high platform that separated the main church from the chancel. In the south aisle, there is another piscina and a doorway just for the priest.
The font, where baptisms happen, is very old. It's a Norman "table-top" style. It has a round bowl set on a square block. This block is decorated with carved arches.
Past Priests and Records
The first priest recorded at St Mabyn Church was Roger de Worlegan in 1267. The church records, which list important events like births and deaths, go all the way back to 1562.
There is a special table in the church called a credence table. It might have been part of a tomb built to honor Saint Mabyn. People think that tombs might have been built for all of her sisters too.
One of the beautiful stained glass windows in the church remembers Francis John Hext and his wife Margaret. They passed away in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Bells and Clock
In 1787, the church had five bells. Later, it had six. Bell casting, which is making bells, even happened in a nearby garden once! A church clock was put in place in 1950. Today, the bell tower has eight bells. These bells can be rung in many different patterns.
Graveyard and Recent Work
The church graveyard has 12 old headstones. These headstones are considered important historical items.
In 2008, the church roof was repaired. This big project cost £115,000. Part of the money came from English Heritage, an organization that helps protect historic places.
In March 2014, some items were taken from the church. These included a painting from the 1800s and a police officer's truncheon from 1807.
The current Priest in charge is David Seymour. David Pollard is the minister.
Gallery
-
St Mabena church sign
-
St Mabyn Church nave
-
Credence table in St Mabyn Church
-
19th-century painting of Christ's preparation for entombment
-
Police constable's Truncheon displayed in St Mabyn Parish Church dated 1807
