St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus |
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St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus
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| Location | Probus, Cornwall |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Probus and St Grace |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 126 feet (38 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Probus |
| Deanery | Powder |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Probus and St Grace's Church is a very old and important church in the village of Probus, Cornwall, England. It belongs to the Church of England and is a Grade I listed building. This means it's a really special historical place that is protected. The church is named after two saints, St Probus and St Grace.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Days and Monastery
Long ago, even before the Norman Conquest in 1066, there was a monastery where the church now stands. This monastery continued to exist until the time of King Henry I.
King Henry I later gave the church in Probus to Exeter Cathedral. Because of this, the church had a dean and five canons, who were important church leaders. The deanery was removed in 1268, and the canon positions ended in 1549. The first vicar, a local priest, started working here in 1312. The parish also had smaller chapels nearby in Cornelly and Merther.
Building the Church Tower
Most of the church was built in the 1400s. However, the tall tower was still being built in 1523. This tower is the tallest among all parish churches in Cornwall. It looks more like towers found in Somerset than other Cornish towers.
The stone for the tower was brought from a quarry by local people using their carts. A man named John Tregian of Golden led this effort. But another important person, Nicholas Carminow of Trenowth, who was John's brother-in-law, tried hard to stop the building work.
Inside the church, you can find a special brass memorial for John Wulvedon and his wife, dating back to 1512.
Church Restoration Work
In 1850, the church needed a lot of repair work because of a problem called dry rot. During this time, the ceilings were covered with plaster, and the pillars were painted white. The church also had tall, wooden pews that blocked the view. The arch leading into the tower was also blocked by a gallery, which hid the main window.
All these issues were fixed during the restoration led by George Edmund Street. The church reopened on 28 October 1851, looking much better. Later, the tower was restored again between 1922 and 1923 by J. Dawson and Sons, who were experts in working on tall structures.
Church Organ
The church has an organ that was built in 1884 by a company called Hele & Co. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
