St Sampson's Church, Golant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Sampson's Church, Golant |
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| 50°21′59″N 04°38′39″W / 50.36639°N 4.64417°W | |
| OS grid reference | SX121552 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.golant.net |
| History | |
| Dedication | Samson of Dol |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Golant |
| Deanery | St Austell |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Sampson's Church is a Church of England church in the village of Golant, Cornwall, England. It is named after Samson of Dol, an important saint.
This church is mentioned in a famous book called England's Thousand Best Churches by Simon Jenkins. He described it as "warm and welcoming." The poet John Betjeman also visited and said the church's seats were "extremely uncomfortable." St Sampson's Church is open every day. It holds church services every Sunday and evening prayers on Thursday evenings. The church choir sings on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.
Contents
History of St Sampson's Church
Saint Samson of Dol's Journey
Cornwall has many saints, but Saint Sampson is one of the most well-known. He often stayed in Golant while traveling to Brittany, a region in France. He later became an archbishop in a place called Dol.
Many Cornish saints traveled from Ireland to France. They often stopped along the south coast of Cornwall, sometimes near Golant village. Today, there is a walking path called the Saints' Way. This path is popular with hikers and goes from Padstow on the north coast to Fowey. It passes right through Golant village and by the church.
Building the Church
Before 1281, St Sampson's Church was a small chapel connected to Tywardreath church. People in Golant had to help pay for the upkeep of Tywardreath church.
Around the years 1460 to 1508, the chapel in Golant was rebuilt. After this, the people of Golant decided they no longer wanted to pay for Tywardreath church. In 1508, the church and its churchyard were officially blessed by a bishop. Before this blessing, people from Golant had to bury their dead at Tywardreath.
The roof of the main part of the church, called the nave, has special carvings. These carvings show that different craft groups helped rebuild it. The roof of the south aisle (a side section) was a gift from the Colquite family. Near the church porch, there is a holy well. This well is protected by a small building from the 15th century.
Interesting Features of the Church
You can see pictures of Saint Sampson in some of the church's beautiful stained glass windows. The church also has a set of five bells that can be rung.
The church's organ was put in place in 1995. It's a special organ because it uses parts from other organs. Some pipes came from an organ that was originally in St Michael's Church in Newquay. Other pipes came from the organ in Paul Parish Church. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.
