Church of St Breock

The Church of St Breock is a parish church dating back to 1259. It was extended in the 15th century, partly rebuilt in 1677, and restored in 1881 and 1966. The church is constructed of stone rubble with slate roofs.

The building comprises a nave and chancel under a single roof, a north transept (known as the Pawton aisle), and a west tower. In the 15th century, a six-bay south aisle was added, and the south transept, or Trevorder aisle, was possibly added or rebuilt in 1677. The church has both north and south porches, with the north porch serving as the main entrance because the ground rises steeply to the south.

The squat west tower has three stages and a battlemented parapet. It features a restored or renewed two-light west window and circa 15th century belfry windows. The Perpendicular tracery in the nave, chancel, south aisle and north and south transepts is largely from the 19th century. The north porch has moulded four-centred arches and a likely 17th-century triple-lapped door.

Inside, the walls have been stripped of plaster. A circa 15th century waggon roof from the south aisle has been reset on the exterior. The roofs of the nave, chancel and aisles were renewed in the 19th century. There is a six-bay south aisle with granite piers with carved Beer stone capitals and four-centred arcade arches. 20th-century furnishings are present. The church holds a circa 14th century catacleuse stone font and a painted Royal Coat of Arms from 1710. Several memorials are also displayed, including a circa 14th century priest’s tombstone, a brass to Christopher Tredennick (Sheriff of Cornwall during the reign of Henry VIII), and 16th and 17th-century slate memorials to the Tregagle, Tredennick, Goodfellow and Tyake families. An altar piece dated 1822 is at the west end of the church; remains of old glass are found in the south aisle windows. The church is situated in a picturesque valley, with the ground rising to the north, south, and west.