St Piran's Church, Perranarworthal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Piran's Church |
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St Piran's Church
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| 50°12′29″N 5°06′50″W / 50.208°N 5.114°W | |
| Location | Perranarworthal, Cornwall |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Piran's Church |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Piran |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Granite |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Stithians with Perranarworthal |
| Deanery | Carnmarth, North |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
St Piran's Church is a busy Anglican church located in Perranarworthal, Cornwall, England. It is part of a group of eight churches called the Eight Saints Cluster. These churches are in the areas of Stithians with Perran-Ar-Worthal and Gwennap. The church is named after Saint Piran.
St Piran's Church is a very important building. It was given a special Grade II* listed status in May 1967. This means it is a historic building that needs to be protected. The churchyard also has several old chest tombs and headstones that are listed.
Contents
History of St Piran's Church
There might have been a very old Norman chapel on this spot a long time ago. We know this from a special stone carving called a tympanum above the south door. A church was built here in the 1400s, but only its tower is still standing today.
The front part of the church, called the chancel, was rebuilt in 1842. It was rebuilt again in 1882. At that time, the main part of the church (the nave), the side area (the aisle), and the entrance porch were also rebuilt. A small room called a vestry was added in the 1900s.
What Does St Piran's Church Look Like?
Outside the Church
The church tower is made of strong granite stone. The rest of the church is built from a rough stone called killas rubble. It has nice granite details and a roof made of Delabole slate.
The tower has three levels, separated by stone lines. It has a battlement top with pointy pinnacles at each corner. The tower's bell openings have special stone arches and patterns. The main doorway has a door from the 1800s.
The main part of the church and the chancel are under one roof. The south side has a vestry at its east end. Most of the windows were added in the 1800s. They match the old Gothic style. The north wall has windows for the chancel and nave. The east end has a large window with three sections. The south wall has several windows, mostly with two sections. The porch entrance has pointed arches.
Inside the Church
The chancel inside has a row of arches supported by granite columns. The roof has a special design with curved wooden supports. Above the main doorway, you can see the old Norman tympanum. It shows a carving of the Lamb of God. This carving is from a much older building that was here before.
The stone font, where baptisms happen, is shaped like an octagon. It might be from the Middle Ages, but it was changed in the 1800s. The pulpit and the pews (church benches) were also added during the 1882 rebuilding.
The church has a special letter from King Charles I from 1643. It even has a painted coat of arms on the back! You can also see memorials inside. These include a marble monument for Benjamin Sampson from 1840. There are also beautiful stained glass windows. One is for John Jose of Mellingey, and another is for the geologist William Jory Henwood.
The Churchyard
The wall around the churchyard is made of killas stone. The gate entrance, steps, and top stones are made of granite. It has wrought iron railings. These were built in the 1800s and are also listed as historic structures.
Inside the churchyard, there are many old headstones and chest tombs that are listed. Some are thin slate headstones from the 1700s and 1800s. There is a group of five rectangular chest tombs. Some are from the late 1700s and early 1800s. One tomb from 1845 has an obelisk on top. Another square chest tomb from 1813 is made of white limestone and has an urn on top.
