A link to the past: Churches and cathedrals in Cornwall

Article Written By: lw

It is a well-known fact that there is only one city in the duchy of Cornwall, Truro, and therefore likely only to be one cathedral. Yet, this doesn't mean that there has always only ever been one cathedral in the region. In fact for a comparably small area, Cornwall has a fantastic number of impressive places of worship which will be of interest to those with a penchant for both religious and historic buildings. Here is a short guide to four of the most interesting.

Truro Cathedral

The cathedral in Truro is something of a centre-point of the town but is actually a relatively young structure. Building started in 1880 at a time when the town already boasted a number of buildings and it wasn't until the early 1900s before the central spire was finished. Consequently, the necessity to build on land surrounded by established shops and houses meant that the design of the cathedral is uniquely bent. This is hardly noticeable upon visiting, however, and the gothic revival architecture is fantastically ornate and has been subject to a number of high-profile restoration drives to protect its Bath stone make-up.

St German's Priory

It is perhaps surprising to some that the small village of St. Germans near Plymouth once boasted arguably one of the most important religious buildings in the area. In fact, for a number of years St German's Priory was the cathedral of the Bishops of Cornwall from about 931 to 1043 AD. The church was rebuilt soon after with two distinctive square towers and an ornate door between. The site grew in religious importance when a monastery was built nearby. This has since been privately owned by the Eliot family, while the large unique church continues to serve the parish.

The Church of St Just

The church at St Just in Roseland is often regarded as the most-photographed in the region. The uniquely tropical climate of the peninsula and its creek-side position mean that the sheltered structure has stood well the test of time since its construction in the 13th Century. However, the gardens that surround the building are really what set it apart. In the 19th Century a vicar planted a number of plants including hydrangeas, lilies and fuchsias and in the summer the place blooms with fantastic flowers and colours.

St Buryan's Church

The church at St Buryan in South West Cornwall has been established since around 930 AD and boasts many unique features added to the building over the years. The tower was finished in 1501 and features an octagonal turret in one corner to allow for a spiral staircase inside. The church is also famed for its six bells which are said to have the heaviest peal of any six bells in the world and each is carved with its own inscription. The local stone used to build the tower is the same Lamorna granite used in London Bridge.

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Sam Southern - For more details about Cornwall self catering visit: http://www.killanoon.co.uk/

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