Church Of Saint Erth

The Church of Saint Erth is a parish church dating back to the 15th century, which was restored in 1747 by Vicar Collins and partly rebuilt in 1872-3 using much of the original material. It is constructed primarily of granite ashlar for the tower and south porch, with granite rubble walls and granite dressings. The roofs are covered in scantle slate with granite coped gable ends. The church comprises a nave and chancel, a west tower, a north aisle, a south aisle with a chapel at the east end, and a south porch.

The circa early 15th century three-stage, embattled west tower is unbuttressed and features an original west doorway and a single original three-light traceried louvred window to the upper stage. The north aisle was largely rebuilt in the 19th century, but retains 15th century windows, notable for the five-light traceried window on the east gable end. The chancel gable projects and has a 19th century five-light window. The south aisle also has a five-light 15th century window to its east gable end, with the remaining windows being 19th century copies incorporating some 15th century masonry. The fine late 15th century south porch features a large four-centred arched doorway with a moulded arch carried on octagonal, panelled jambs, incorporating heavy moulded bases and caps. Weathered buttresses flank the doorway, with two similar buttresses on each side wall, each featuring blind trefoil-headed panels on their upper stage. A shaped-headed sundial dated 1820 sits above the doorway.

Inside, 15th century features include a steep two-centred tower arch, a rood stair with a doorway in the north wall, and six-bay arcades between the nave/chancel and the aisles. These arcades have standard A (Pevsner) piers and four-centred arches; the north arcade capitals are carved, while the south arcade capitals are moulded. Fine waggon roofs with original carved bosses are present in the aisles and porch. The roof over the Trewinnard chapel (at the east end of the south aisle) features cross-braced panels and guttering. While this chapel was restored in 1913, some of the timber may have been replaced at that time or during the 1872-3 restoration. The walls are plastered. Church furnishings include a Norman font incorporated into a late 19th century Norman style design, a 17th century painted copy of a letter from King Charles I, painted Arms of King George I, a copy of a 15th century rood screen, copies of late medieval bench ends, an organ by W Sweetland of Bath dated 1881, and a carved oak alter reredos of 1903 (in memory of Nicholas and Julieine Harvey). A stone wall monument commemorates Davies Giddy (1767-1839) of Tredrea and a 1912 memorial window in the south wall is dedicated to the Hawkins family of Trewinnard. Stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops are also present.