St Nonna's Church, Altarnun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nonna's Church, Altarnun |
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 St Nonna's Church, Altarnun
Location in Cornwall
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| 50°36′17″N 4°30′46″W / 50.604608°N 4.512809°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | St Nonna, Altarnon |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Nonna |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Altarnun |
| Deanery | Trigg Major |
| Archdeaconry | Bodmin |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Nonna's Church is a very old and important church in the village of Altarnun in Cornwall. It is also known as the Cathedral of the Moors. This church is the second largest one on Bodmin Moor. The name Altarnun means "altar of Nonn".
The church is dedicated to Saint Non or Nonna. She was the mother of St David, a very famous saint. St Nonna's Church is even mentioned in the book Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier.
Today, St Nonna's Church is an active Anglican parish church. It belongs to the Church of England. The church is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historic building.
Contents
What is the History of St Nonna's Church?
The oldest parts of St Nonna's Church were built during the Norman times. This was a very long time ago! Most of the church you see today was built later. It was mostly finished in the late 1400s.
During the 1400s, new parts were added. These included the north and south aisles. Later, in 1867, the church was carefully repaired and updated. This work was done by E. Sedding.
What Does St Nonna's Church Look Like?
St Nonna's Church is built in a style called Perpendicular. This style was popular in the 1400s. The church has a tall tower. It stands about 109 feet (33 meters) high.
Inside, the church has many special features. There is a beautiful old Norman font. This is a basin used for baptisms. The church also has a lot of old wooden carvings. These include the screen, bench-ends, and communion rails. The communion rails were made in 1684.
Special Woodwork and Carvings
The screen inside the church is one of the best from the 1400s in Cornwall. It has three gates. The carvings of vines and other designs are very detailed.
There are 79 carved bench-ends in the church. These were made by an artist named Robert Daye. He worked on them between 1510 and 1530. The carvings show many different things. You can see a Cornish piper and a fiddler. Robert Daye's name is carved on one of them.
The church also has eight bells. These bells can be rung together to make music.
Gallery
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The old Norman font and the main part of the church.
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A view inside St Nonna's Church.
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A detailed carving on a bench-end.
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Another example of a carved bench-end.
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A close-up of a bench-end carving.
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A general view of the church interior.
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What is Around the Church?
Outside the church, there are five other important structures. These are also listed as Grade II historic buildings. They include the entrances to the churchyard. There are also gates, gateposts, and a wall.
You can also find two old tombs in the churchyard. One is the Isbell tomb. The other is a tombchest with a headstone. These show how old the church and its surroundings are.
