St Sennen's Church, Sennen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Sennen's Church, Sennen |
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St. Sennen's Church, Sennen
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.sennen-cove.com/sennenchurch.htm |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Sennen |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Sennen, Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St. Sennen's Church, Sennen is a historic church in the Church of England. You can find it in the village of Sennen, which is in Cornwall, England, UK. This church is special because it's known as the parish church for Land's End, the most westerly point of mainland England!
Contents
A Look Back in Time
There has been a church in Sennen for a very long time, at least since the 1400s. It is dedicated to St. Sennen, who was an Irish saint from the 500s. Sometimes, it has also been linked to St. John the Baptist.
When Was the Church Built?
The church building you see today is from the Middle Ages. We know a bit about its history from an old Latin message found on a stone at the bottom of the church's font (a basin used for baptisms). This message says that the church was officially opened or "dedicated" around the year 1441. This special event happened on the day that celebrates the beheading of St. John the Baptist, which is August 29th.
What Does the Church Look Like?
St. Sennen's Church has a main area called the nave and a special part at the front called the chancel. It also has a south aisle (a side section) and a north transept (a part that sticks out, making the church look like a cross).
During some repair work in 1867, a cool wall painting was discovered. It showed two round towers with battlements, like a castle! Inside the transept, there's also an old alabaster (a type of stone) figure that represents the Virgin Mary, though its head is missing.
The Church Bells
The church has a tall, three-story tower with a flat, battlemented top. This tower holds a set of bells. In 1889, five new bells were put in, replacing an older set of three. These new bells were made by the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. Each bell had a special message carved into it:
- The first bell was recast (melted down and made new) in 1889.
- The second bell was dedicated "To the Glory of God."
- The third bell was a memory of a devoted church leader named Rev. R. J. Roe, who served from 1871 to 1886.
- The fourth bell was given by "Many donors, through Mary H. Isabell."
- The fifth bell had a lovely message: "Ring out o'er land and seas."
Ancient Cornish Crosses
Around the parish of Sennen, there are five ancient Cornish crosses. These are old stone crosses that are important historical markers.
- One cross is located at Escalls.
- Another cross can be found at Sennen Green.
- The Trevilley cross is very special because it's one of only two crosses in the area that has a figure of Jesus on the cross carved into the stone.
- A cross on the churchyard wall used to be in a different spot near a place called the Giant's Stone.
- A beautiful cross in the cemetery next to the church was once used as a footbridge near Trevear! It was moved to the churchyard in 1878 and then to its current spot around 1890.
