Church Of Saint Erth

ST ERTH THE GREEN LANE, St Erth SW 5435-5535 13/233 Church of Saint Erth -

GV 1 Parish church. C15 restored in 1747 by Vicar Collins, partly rebuilt in 1872-3 using much of the original material. Granite ashlar tower and south porch, otherwise granite rubble with granite dressings. Grouted scantle slate roofs with granite coped gable ends. Plan: Nave/chancel ; west tower ; north aisle, south aisle with chapel at east end and south porch. Exterior: Complete circa early C15 3-stage embattled unbuttressed west tower with original west doorway and 1 original 3-light traceried louvred windows to the upper stage. North aisle was mostly rebuilt in the C19 but the windows are C15, including 5-light traceried window to the east gable end. Chancel gable end projects and has C19 5-light window. South aisle has 5-light C15 window to east gable end, otherwise C19 copies incorporating some C15 masonary. Fine late C15 porch has large 4-centred arched doorway with its moulded arch carried on octagonal panelled jambs with heavy moulded bases and caps. Slender weathered buttress on either side of the doorway and 2 similar buttresses to each side wall. The upper stage of each buttress has blind Trefoil-headed panels. Over the doorway is a shaped-headed sundial dated 1820. Interior: C15 features: steep 2-centred tower arch; rood stair with doorway (north wall); 6-bay arcades between the nave/chancel and aisles with standard A (Pevsner) piers and 4-centred arches (carved capitals to north arcade, moulded capitals to south arcade); fine waggon roofs with much original timber (aisles and porch) with carved bosses. The roof over the Trewinnard chapel (east end of south aisle) has cross-braced panels and guttering. This chapel was restored in 1913 and it is possible that much of the timber was replaced then, or at the 1872-3 restoration. Walls have C19 plaster. Fittinos: Norman bowl incorporated into late C19 Norman style font; C17 painted copy of letter from King Charles I; painted Arms of King George I; otherwise C19 and C20 fittings including copy of C15 rood screen; copies of late medieval bench ends; organ by W Sweetland of Bath dated 1881 and carved oak alter reredos of 1903 (in memory of Nicholas and Julieine Harvey). Monuments: Stone wall monument to Davies Giddy (1767-1839) of Tredrea, qv, and a 1912 memorial window in south wall to the Hawkins family of Trewinnard qv. Sources: Church guide; Kelly's directories.

Listing NGR: SW5498935026