St Protus and St Hyacinth's Church, Blisland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Protus and St Hyacinth’s Church, Blisland |
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St Protus and St Hyacinth’s Church, Blisland
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| 50°31′36.36″N 4°40′53.23″W / 50.5267667°N 4.6814528°W | |
| Location | Blisland |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saints Hyacinth and Protus |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Blisland |
| Deanery | Trigg Minor and Bodmin |
| Archdeaconry | Bodmin |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Protus and St Hyacinth's Church is a historic Church of England church in the village of Blisland, in Cornwall, England. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it is considered a building of special architectural and historical importance.
Contents
History and Architecture
The church has a long and interesting history, with parts of it being almost a thousand years old.
Norman Beginnings and 15th-Century Growth
The oldest parts of the church were built by the Normans, who came to England in 1066. The main central part of the church, called the nave, and a section that sticks out to the north, called the north transept, are from this early time.
In the 15th century, the church was made much larger. Builders added a new row of six arches (an arcade) on the south side, along with a new aisle (a walkway). They also built a porch, a chapel, a new tower, and a beautiful wooden wagon roof.
The Victorian Makeover
In 1894, the church had a major restoration to repair and improve it. This project was led by an architect named F. C. Eden. The restoration cost £1,300, which was a lot of money back then.
As part of this project, a new stained-glass window was added. It was designed by artists Bucknall and Comper and was a gift from Mrs Lucy Edward-Collins. She gave the window in memory of her husband and son. The church officially reopened on December 13, 1894.
Special Features of the Church
The church is famous for its beautiful restoration work and unique dedication.
Who are St. Protus and St. Hyacinth?
The church is named after two saints, Protus and Hyacinth. They were brothers and Christian martyrs in ancient Rome. Locally, St. Protus was often called St. Pratt.
Some historians, like Charles Henderson, think the church might have originally been dedicated to a different saint, St Adwen. This is because a nearby place was once called Lanedewen.
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Beautiful Artwork and Design
The restoration in the 1890s was so well done that many people admire it. The famous poet John Betjeman said, "As a restoration and even improvement on a medieval church, this holy and peaceful place ... can hardly be bettered in the kingdom."
Inside, you can see a beautifully carved wooden screen called a rood screen, which was designed by F. C. Eden. There is also a brass memorial plaque from the 15th century for John Balsam, who was once the priest of the church.
The Church Today
St Protus and St Hyacinth's Church is part of a group of local churches called a joint parish. This means it shares its priest and activities with three other churches in the area:
- St Catherine's Church in Temple
- St Breward's Church in St Breward
- St Helena's Church in Helland
