Description

SS 20 SE MARHAMCHURCH MARHAMCHURCH

7/58 Parish Church of St Marwenne
29.9.61

GV I

Parish church. Lower stage of tower C14, chancel and transept C14, upper stages
of tower C15, north aisle and porch C15, late C19 vestry, early C20 restoration.
South side and chancel stone rubble with granite and greenstone dressings, north
aisle freestone ashlar with granite dressings, tower and porch masonry dressed
stone brought to course, greenstone and granite dressings, slate roofs. Complex
development, chancel and tower not aligned, adjustment for this at junction
between south transept and chancel. Possible that the C14 cruciform plan had
transeptal arches set back from crossing, the addition of the north aisle with 1
bay to the chancel may have involved widening the chancel to the north, hence
non-alignment with west tower. Vestry and boiler room added at west end of north
aisle, vestry gabled to the north. Chancel has coped gable, greenstone quoins
and 3-light greenstone Perpendicular east window with hoodmould and label stops.
South wall of chancel has priests door under triangular arch and 2-light window
replaced 1980s. South wall of nave has probably C14 masonry and inserted square-
headed C16 3-light granite mullioned window, south transept has renewed
Perpendicular 3-light window with hoodmould and label stops. East wall of
transept looks rebuilt; 2-light timber mullioned window in east wall of transept
lights pulpit. 4 bay north aisle: east end has 3 light C19 Perpendicular
greenstone window with hoodmould and label stops. 2 late C19 buttresses with
offsets to north aisle, 1 earlier buttress. 3 stage battlemented west tower with
tall angle buttresses with offsets, tall parapet and crocketted pinnacles.
Moulded strings above first and third stages only. Polygonal north-east stair
turret has slit openings. Arched, moulded, greenstone west doorway with
hoodmould and label stops. 2-light west window with hoodmould and label stops
looks C19. Louvred slit opening on south at bell-ringers' stage. Belfry
opening, west side, two C15 trefoil headed lights with slate louvres below
pierced quatrefoil under hoodmould. North and south side belfry openings each
have 2 round-headed lights with slate louvres below blind quatrefoil. Statue
niche to second stage on east wall of tower. C19 vestry has set back buttresses
and 3-light C19 Perpendicular window in north gable end, middle light transomed.
Boiler room under lean-to roof at west end of north aisle. Blocked C13 lancet
window in west wall of north aisle. Gabled south porch has granite quoins and
coping. Shallow-moulded arched outer door, granite topped benches in porch.
Porch roof has moulded arched brace and collar roof, foliage carved on wall
plates. Bosses missing, some renewal of ribs. Holy water stoup. Shallow
moulded granite inner door, and important C16 studded door of overlapping
vertical moulded planks, with heavy strap hinges terminating in elaborate
finials. Door hung on gudgeon hooks. Loop drop latch preserved behind glass
panel, massive wooden lock case.
Interior: Shallow moulded C15 granite north arcade with monolith piers carved
with 4 hollows and 4-shafts, hollows projecting above the collars on the shafts.
North aisle roof C15 unceiled waggon with ribs and bosses, vine-carved wall plate
and angels carved at wall plate level. Nave and chancel roofs late C19 waggons
ceiled with boarding, some bosses original. Stepped up chancel. Chancel arch
marked by adjustment to roofs. Walls of nave and aisle plastered, masonry around
window unplastered. Unmoulded tower arch. Chamfered arch into transept. Floor
of nave and aisle early C20 slates laid on edge chequerboard pattern. Chancel
floor black and white marble, probably C18, altar step C20 marble. Trefoil-
headed C14 piscina in south wall of chancel. C17 pulpit is a 5-sided drum: upper
carving of strapwork and cartouches, then below a cornice, demi-figures of
saints under round-headed arches, symbols or the evangelists below. The pulpit
has a contemporary tester. Granite cresset stone with 4 holes positioned by the
bower arch. One C17 bench with carved ends in chancel. Late C19/early C20 choir
stalls and communion rail. C19 brass fittings include full size candleholders.
Late C19/early C20 font, probably recutting of Perpendicular font. Large plaster
royal arms of Charles II carved in situ, (q.v. Kilkhampton, Launcells and
Boconnoc churches) on south wall retains early colouring. Good slate memorial to
George Rolle, buried 1645, fixed to north wall of north aisle chapel with coat of
arms carved in relief and scroll border. Slate memorial on south wall of north
aisle chapel has carved border and retains some ancient colour. Inscription
illegible. Several good C17 slate memorials used as paving in nave. Brass to
Maria Maskell, d.1845, set in north aisle chapel floor: ornamental cross and text
possibly in medieval matrix. East window and 2 north aisle windows by Kempe,
westernmost window of north aisle by Beer of Exeter. Set into the west wall of
the north aisle in a blocked cinquefoil-headed single light stone window with 2
slits below a transom. Charles Henderson states that this was found in the
rectory garden and thought that the window originated from the cell of Cecilia
Moyes, who was granted a licence to be an anchorite in 1403. Her cell may have
been on the north side of the church, the window allowing her to see Mass and
receive the sacrament. Belfry not inspected.
Charles Henderson, MS Notes for a parochial history of Cornwall, held in the
Royal Institution of Cornwall Library. Rosemary Pardoe, Royal Arms in the
Churches of Cornwall, (1982)

Listing NGR: SS2231603690

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17529434

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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