Church Of St Dennis

ST DENNIS CHURCH ROAD, St Dennis SW 95 NE 13/281 Church of St Dennis - 10.2.67 GV II*

Parish church. Probably late C14 - early C15, with later C15 tower; dated 1847 when the church was substantially rebuilt. The church was badly damaged by fire and is in the course of rebuilding at the time of survey (July 1987). Squared granite rubble with granite dressings. Granite ashlar tower. C20 slate roof with ridge tiles, gable ends with raised coped verges and cross finials. Plan:, Nave and chancel in one, rebuilt in 1847 under the same gable with the south aisle, and a south porch of 1847. North aisle, rebuilt C19. West tower probably of late C15. Exterior: The east end includes the chancel and the south aisle; there are two 3- light windows with cusped lights, 4-centred arches and hood moulds, of the C19 rebuilding. The north side of the nave has two 2-light C19 windows with cusped lights and square heads. The south aisle is of 5 bays with the porch in the second bay from the west. All windows are C19, 2-light, with cusped lights and triangular hood moulds. West end blind, rebuilt probably in circa late C15 in granite ashlar. Gabled south porch has 4-centred arched outer doorway with moulded shafts to sides with caps and C19 cast iron gates. Pedimental panelled gable with datestone 1847 and obelisk finials. Interior of the porch has stone benches to sides and inner 4- centred arched doorway with roll-mouldings and cushion stops. The north aisle is of 2 bays, with 2-light and 3-light window with cusped lights and square hood moulds. Similar 2-light east window. The west tower is of 2 stages on chamfered plinth, without buttresses, with moulded string courses, embattled parapet with circular panelled pinnacles. Circular stair tower to north with lancets, parapet with coping. 4-centred arched west doorway forming a shallow internal porch; paired lancet above with Y tracery and hood mould. Second stage has 2-light bell-openings with cusped lights, Y tracery louvres and hood moulds. Second stage to north has single cusped light. Pyramidal lead roof. Interior: Plastered walls, and C20 5-bay arched-brace roof rising from stone corbels in the nave, chancel and south aisle, all in one. 4-centred tower arch, with inner arch with carved figures as springers. Stone newel stair in the stair tower. There is a 3-bay arcade to the north aisle, rebuilt C20, with octagonal piers. Fittings: Only the font remains, in the nave, in granite, with panelled sides and stem, probably C19. The church is built on the site of an Iron Age hill fort and is a prominent local landmark. The boundary wall of the churchyard is circular, following the outline of the fort and retains a good collection of C19 monuments, not all individually listed. Sources: Pevsner, N.: Buildings of England: Cornwall 1970.

Listing NGR: SW9507258306