Description

SW53SE ST HILARY CHURCHTOWN

1529/2/138 Church of St Hilary

10.6.54

GV I

Parish church. C13 tower, otherwise rebuilt in 1855 by William White {following a fire in 1853). Granite and elvan rubble with granite dressings. Dry scantle slate roofs with replica C17 or earlier crested clay ridge tiles.
Plan: C13 west tower; the remainder of the church was rebuilt in 1855 including nave/chancel with lantern over the crossing; slightly shorter north and south aisles; very shallow north and south transepts and deep south porch. Early English style.
Exterior: North doorway reused from old church: 4-centred arch, hoodmould and moulded jambs over scrolled stops. Sundial, dated 1787 to H. Bond over the porch doorway. West tower is complete: tapered 2-stage tower surmounted by tall broach spire with statue of Saint Hilary to south east face of spire; weathered corner buttresses to lower stage, roll moulded corners above; pointed west doorway moulded to both sides; small west window with some old glass, 2-light Y -traceried louvred 2-light windows to bell floor, gargoyles under parapet and small vents to the spire and weather vane. The C 19 parts of the church are unaltered with Y-traceried windows and trefoil headed lights.
Interior: C14 pointed tower arch over moulded octagonal-on-plan imposts; unaltered C19 structure including 5 bay arcades with pointed arches carried on slender piers between the nave and aisles; 3-bay arcades between the chancel and aisles; arch braced roofs with cusped ashlaring and lantern over the crossing.- Fittings: C4 Roman milestone with tribute to the Emperor Constantine, C13 granite font used as piscina, C14 statue of Saint Anne; C17 carving of Saint joseph; C19 granite font; altar and choir stalls painted by Ernest Proctor, Annie Walker, Harold Harvey; Norman Garstin, Harold Knight, Alathea Garstin and Gladys Hynes {all painters of the Newlyn School) reredos in Lady Chapel painted by Ernest Proctor; parclose screen in north aisle painted by joan Manning Saunder when aged between 10 and 12; and other works by artists of The Newlyn School. In 1932 there was a raid on the church when altars and images were damaged. This was following a court order after objections had been made about the form of services carried out by Father Bernard Walke.
Sources: Church guide; Kellys Directories; Saint Hilary of Cornwall by Horace Keast.

Listing NGR: SW5504831298

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St Hilary Church, Cornwall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7593372

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Old House Care and Repair
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  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
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  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas