St Pol de Léon's Church, Paul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Pol de Léon's Church, Paul |
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The church from the west
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| 50°05′23″N 05°32′46″W / 50.08972°N 5.54611°W | |
| OS grid reference | SW 465 271 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.paulchurch.co.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Pol-de-Léon |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Paul, Cornwall |
| Deanery | Penwith |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Pol de Léon's Church, also known as Paul Parish Church, is a historic parish church in the Church of England. You can find it in the village of Paul, Cornwall, in England. This church is a special place with a long history, interesting stories, and unique features.
Contents
Discovering the Church's History
How Old is St Pol de Léon's Church?
People believe that Paul Aurelian, a Welsh saint, first started a church here way back in the year 490. The church building you see today is very old, from the medieval period. However, it was mostly destroyed in 1595 during a raid by the Spanish. Luckily, the church was rebuilt by the year 1600.
What is Special About the Church Tower?
The church tower is made from strong granite stone. It stands about 27 meters (89 feet) tall. On top of the tower, there's a smaller turret that is about 6 meters (20 feet) tall. This tall turret acts like a "daymark," which means it helps ships in Mount's Bay know where they are during the day.
Inside the tower, there are six bells. Two of these bells were made by Abraham Rudhall in 1727. The other four bells were made much later, in 1950, by a company called John Taylor & Co.
The Beautiful East Window
The church has a very special window in the east part of the building, called the chancel. This window was designed by Robert Anning Bell, a famous artist from the Arts and Crafts movement. It is a memorial to Lieutenant William Torquil Macleod Bolitho, who sadly died in 1915 during a battle.
Experts from the Diocese of Truro say this window is one of the most important stained-glass windows in all of Cornwall. It was put in place in 1918. The stone around the window is made from a soft material called Polyphant stone, which is now crumbling. It will be replaced with new stone from the Forest of Dean.
Memorials and Burials at the Church
Who is Buried in the Churchyard?
The churchyard at St Pol de Léon's is the resting place for several important people. Among them are the Cornish language writers Nicholas Boson, Thomas Boson, and John Boson. There is also a special monument inside the church by John Boson, dedicated to Arthur Hutchens, who died in 1709. This monument is the only surviving inscription written in traditional Cornish stone.
The Memorial to Dolly Pentreath
In the churchyard, you can also find a memorial to Dolly Pentreath. Many people believe she was the very last person to speak Cornish as her first language. This memorial was placed there in 1882 by Louis Lucien Bonaparte, who was a relative of Napoleon Bonaparte, along with the Vicar of Paul at the time. There is also a monument for Captain Stephen Hutchens, who passed away in 1709.
Images for kids
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Exterior south side
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Nave
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East window of the chancel, honouring Lt. William Bolitho
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Sundial on the south side
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Monument to Dolly Pentreath
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Monument to Dolly Pentreath (rear view)
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