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St Werburgh's Church, Warbstow facts for kids

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St Werburgh’s Church, Warbstow
St Werburgh's Church, Warbstow - geograph.org.uk - 208248.jpg
St Werburgh’s Church, Warbstow
Location Warbstow
Country England
Denomination Church of England
History
Dedication St Werburgh
Administration
Parish Warbstow
Deanery Stratton
Archdeaconry Bodmin
Diocese Diocese of Truro
Province Province of Canterbury

St Werburgh's Church in Warbstow, Cornwall, is a special old building. It's a parish church that belongs to the Church of England. This church is so important that it's listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected.

History of the Church

Early Beginnings

Long ago, in the 1100s, the land where Warbstow and a nearby place called Treneglos are located belonged to powerful lords from Cardinham. These lords gave the churches in both areas to a priory (a type of monastery) called Tywardreath Priory. At that time, Warbstow was like a smaller church connected to Treneglos. Later, these two church areas joined together under one vicar (a type of priest).

Why St Werburgh?

You might wonder why the church is named after St Werburgh. She was a saint known for her connection to geese! It's a bit of a mystery why she's linked to this area, but Warbstow is famous for its geese, which fits her legend.

Building and Changes

The church you see today started as a Norman building. Norman architecture is a style from the time of the Normans, who came to England in 1066. However, most of the church was rebuilt in the 1400s. This means it has a lot of features from the 15th century.

In 1601, a new porch was added to the north side of the church. A porch is like a covered entrance. Later, in 1861, the church was restored. This means it was repaired and updated to keep it in good condition. Before 1861, the church also had a south transept, which is a part of the church that sticks out like an arm of a cross.

Special Features

The church has some interesting parts to look at. The north porch, added in 1601, is made from large blocks of granite. The doorway inside the porch is made from a special stone called Polyphant stone. Another cool feature is the font, which is a basin used for baptisms. It's a great example of a style found in the nearby area of Altarnun.

The Church Community

Joining Together

St Werburgh's Church is part of a larger group of churches that work together. This is called a "joint parish." It means they share resources and support each other.

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