More information : (SW 89904772) St Probus & St Grace's Church (Vicarage)
(NAT). (1)
The church of SS Probus and Grace was the collegiate church of the
monastery of St.Probus (see SW 94 NW 9), a Celtic foundation,
'Lamprobus'. About 1120 Henry I gave the church to the Cathedral of
Exeter but the first vicar was not appointed until 1312.
The present large building has a mainly 15th century fabric with an
early 16th century tower, the tallest in Cornwall.
Surrounding the church was the privileged sanctuary for felons,
the claim being admitted by the Royal Justices in 1301. (2-5)
4/89 Church of St Probus and St. Grace
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GV I
Parish Church. First vicar 1300 (Exeter Register), present building
is C15 and C16 restored by G.E.Street in 1850 and extended by St
Aubyn 1904. Shale rubble with granite quoins, dressings, buttresses
and ashlar to tower, Delabole slate roofs with granite coped gables.
Nave, chancel, west tower, north aisle and porch, south aisle and
porch and south transept. North wall has seven bays with gable porch
to second bay from west with granite 4 centred arched doorframe.
Other bays have C15 Perpendicular granite 3 light mullions with
freestone tracery and C19 granite ashlar buttresses between. East wall has 3 Perpendicular style windows under gables surmounted by cross finials. Chancel gable was rebuilt in 1850 incorporating many ancient carved fragments. South aisle gable is 1904 as is south transept with boiler room under. South wall has C15 set back buttress to left.
C15 window like those in north wall. Porch with 4 centred doorway and
relief carving Anno G.T. 1637 R.B. 1768 in panel to gable, 2 C15
windows and buttresses, blind bay, transept, window and pointed
arched door 1904 under to left. Tallest and most ornate Cornish
medieval tower of 3 stages was begun circa 1523. West tower doorway
is 4 centred and has hoodmould which becomes second string of
quatrefoil decorated plinth. Fox and hound enrich string to north.
3 canopied niches with engaged crocketed pinnacles embellish north
and south lower stages. Single Perpendicular bell openings with
pierced granite screens between mullions and tracery to second stage
and double ones to third stage with a range of 8 smaller ones under
upper string to each side. Slightly set back buttresses are surmounted by crocketed pinnacles with engaged corner pinnacles under. Further pinnacles midway along crenellated parapet. Flanking north and south aisles have C15 gable windows. Lofty interior has granite wave moulded between sheets standard type B (Pevsner) piers with shields on capitals and 4 centred arcades of 7 bays to north and south of nave. Those between chancel and south aisle are probably 1904. C16 oak panelled screen divides nave from tower and C16 oak bench ends with words of old prayer painted in English (post Reformation) now form base of rood screen. Further reused oak panels in choir stalls and parclose, screen between chancel north aisle. The mosaic floor, east window and panelled wagon roof in chancel are probably 1850.
North aisle west window glass is to Robert Lampen (former Vicar)
1853. Five light C19 east window glass is to Hawkins family of
Trewithen. Then step newel stair to roof loft in north wall and C15
(or later) moulded wagon roof over and to north and south porches.
Nave has C19 scissor braced roof and south aisle has C19 arched
braced collar roof and 1904 barrel roof to east end beyond screen.
C15 windows have chamfered rear arches and tower has tall arch with
panelled responds and intrados, newel stair in north east corner.
Interior fittings include brass memorial of 1514 in floor of south
aisle to John and Cecilia Wolvedon of Golden Manor, granite Norman
piscina to the sanctuary, a piscina in south wall near screen and
memorial of 1766 on right to Thomas Hawkins with seated female
figure holding medallion and an angel over. Octagonal font is 1845
to Sarah wife of William Stackhouse. Bench pews are of church
restoration 1851, a letter from Charles Rex 1643 and James II Coat
of Arms 1685. (6)
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