Church Of Saint Hilary

The Church of Saint Hilary is a parish church with a 13th-century west tower and a largely rebuilt body dating from 1855, designed by William White following a fire in 1853. It is constructed from granite and elvan rubble with granite dressings, and features dry scantle slate roofs with replica 17th-century or earlier crested clay ridge tiles. The plan incorporates the 13th-century west tower, a nave and chancel combined, slightly shorter north and south aisles, shallow north and south transepts, and a deep south porch. The architecture is in an Early English style.

The north doorway is a reused feature from the earlier church, with a four-centred arch, hoodmould, and moulded jambs with scrolled stops. A sundial, dated 1787 to H. Bond, sits above the porch doorway. The west tower is complete, with a tapered two-stage design topped by a tall broach spire. The spire features a statue of Saint Hilary on its south-east face, weathered corner buttresses to the lower stage, roll-moulded corners above, a pointed west doorway with moulded sides, a small west window containing some old glass, and two-light Y-traceried louvred windows on the bell floor. Gargoyles are located under the parapet, and there are small vents and a weather vane on the spire. The 19th-century additions feature Y-traceried windows with trefoil-headed lights.

Inside, a 14th-century pointed tower arch rises over moulded, octagonal imposts. The 19th-century structure includes five-bay arcades, with pointed arches carried on slender piers, between the nave and aisles, and three-bay arcades between the chancel and aisles. The roof is arch braced, with cusped ashlaring, and a lantern over the crossing. Notable fittings include a Roman milestone from the 4th century commemorating Emperor Constantine, a 13th-century granite font used as a piscina, a 14th-century statue of Saint Anne, and a 17th-century carving of Saint Joseph. A 19th-century granite font, altar, and choir stalls are painted by Ernest Proctor, Annie Walker, Harold Harvey, Norman Garstin, Harold Knight, Alathea Garstin, and Gladys Hynes—all artists associated with the Newlyn School. The reredos in the Lady Chapel was also painted by Ernest Proctor. A parclose screen in the north aisle was painted by Joan Manning Saunder when she was between ten and twelve years old, and other works are by artists of The Newlyn School. In 1932, the church was damaged in a raid following a court order related to objections over the form of services led by Father Bernard Walke.