St Mawnan and St Stephen's Church, Mawnan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mawnan and St Stephen’s Church, Mawnan |
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St Mawnan and St Stephen’s Church, Mawnan
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| 50°06′12.85″N 5°05′45.82″W / 50.1035694°N 5.0960611°W | |
| Location | Mawnan |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mawnan and St Stephen |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Mawnan |
| Deanery | Carnmarth South |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Diocese of Truro |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Mawnan and St Stephen's Church is a historic parish church in the village of Mawnan, Cornwall, in the UK. It is part of the Church of England. Because of its historical and architectural importance, it is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important building that is protected by law.
Contents
History of the Church
Building Through the Ages
This church is very old, with some parts built in the 13th century. That's over 800 years ago! The tower is a bit younger, added in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Over hundreds of years, the church needed repairs. In 1827, the north wall was rebuilt. Later, in 1861, the roof over the chancel (the area near the altar) was fixed.
A Major Restoration
By the 1870s, the church was in a very bad state. It was described as "ruinous," which means it was falling apart and unsafe for people to worship inside. A major restoration project began in 1879, led by architect James Piers St Aubyn.
Large sections of the north and south walls were rebuilt, and new windows were added. Beautiful stained glass was installed in the chancel and the north aisle. One new window was added to remember M. Nowell Peters, who had passed away in 1880. The restoration cost £1,500 and was finished in 1880.
Saints and Stone Fragments
The church is named after St. Mawnan (also called Mawganus) and St Stephen. St. Mawnan was a holy person who is believed to have lived in the area during the 6th century.
A fascinating piece of history was found in the churchyard in 1881. It is a small part of an ancient stone cross head. Today, this fragment is built into the wall of the north aisle for everyone to see.
The Church Organ
The church has a beautiful pipe organ made by the company J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd in 1875. It was not originally built for this church. It first belonged to All Saints’ Church in Marazion, another town in Cornwall.
Over the years, the organ has been made larger and improved by other organ builders, Hele & Co and Lance Foy.
Parish Information
St Mawnan and St Stephen's Church shares its duties and priest with another church. This is called a joint parish. The other church in the parish is:
- St Michael's Church, Mawnan Smith
Images for kids
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A historic list of the church's rectors (priests in charge of a parish).
