Church Of St Wenna

Church of St Wenna

A parish church of approximately 15th-century date, though possibly with earlier origins suggested by a 13th-century font and south window of the chancel. The building was probably remodelled in the 15th century, partly refenestrated in the 16th century, and restored in the mid-19th century. The tower and north aisle were probably added in the later 15th century, and the south transept was probably remodelled in 1671, as evidenced by a datestone. The church is constructed of stone rubble with slate roofs, with the nave and chancel forming a single unit. The plan comprises a five-bay nave, chancel, north aisle, south transept, south porch, and a three-stage west tower. A vestry was added, probably in the early 19th century, at the angle between the chancel and the east wall of the north aisle.

The tracery is mostly 16th-century, partly restored in the 19th century. The nave contains a three-light window to the west of the south door, dated circa 16th century, with a rectangular frame and segmental arched openings with slight ogee cusps. The south transept was appropriated for use by the Buller family and features a private entrance on the west side with a two-centred arch and hoodmould, marked with the initials and date "1 B 1671". This transept contains a three-light south window with 19th-century Perpendicular tracery and a sundial inscribed "Per me Jacobum Couch. VT HORA SIC VITA 1671" with a floral trail. A three-light east window, possibly 16th-century, is set in a rectangular surround with segmental arched openings and slight ogee cusps.

The chancel south window is possibly 13th-century, comprising a two-light rectangular opening with cusped foiled heads. A similar 19th-century window stands to the east, with a south priest's door between them in a segmental arched opening with chamfered jambs and pyramid stops. The east chancel window is of three lights with 19th-century Perpendicular tracery, though the jambs and hoodmould appear earlier and the stonework indicates a reduction in the size of the original east window. The vestry in the north-east angle features a two-centred arched opening and a large projecting chimney stack.

The north aisle contains five probably 16th-century three-light windows in rectangular surrounds with segmental heads, slight ogee cusps, and hoodmoulds, separated by stepped buttresses. A three-light west window dates to circa late 16th century and features a four-centred arch with a raised central light.

The three-stage west tower stands on a moulded granite plinth with granite strings, a battlemented cornice, square turrets, and crocketted finials with crosses above. The west door has a segmental arched opening with a heavy rollmould, a rectangular surround with hoodmould, and a plank door with strap hinges incised with crude chevron decoration. Above is a three-light window similar to the west window of the north aisle. The top stage contains three-light belfry openings in four-centred arches with slate louvres, and two gargoyles on the north face with a further gargoyle on the south face.

A gabled stone rubble south porch features a two-centred arched opening with ovolo-moulded jambs and hoodmould. The south door within has a two-centred arched opening with ovolo-moulded jambs and diagonal stops, a double plank door with moulded lock rail, strap hinges, and a heavy lock.

The interior roof to the nave was replaced circa 1960s–70s, and the roof to the south porch was replaced in the mid-19th century. The north aisle retains a good-quality late 15th-century ceiled waggon roof with carved longitudinal and transverse ribs, wall and arcade plates, and ornate carved bosses. The south transept has a sealed waggon roof with moulded wall plates. The five-bay arcade features type A piers on tall moulded bases with carved capitals and wide two-centred moulded arcade arches with torus, cavetto, and chamfer mouldings. A four-centred moulded tower arch rests on carved corbels.

Furnishings are largely 19th and 20th-century. The south transept, appropriated by the Buller family, contains two front benches with circa 18th-century fielded panels carved on both sides with a blind arcade of ogee cusped arches and a central panel bearing a coat of arms. An octagonal font of elvan stone is possibly 13th-century. A 17th-century alms box stands at the west end of the nave aisle, and royal arms painted on wood dating 1801–16 hang over the south door. Victorian texts painted on possibly tin panels are positioned around the south transept and chancel, along with boards bearing the Commandments, Creed, and Lord's Prayer.

Memorials include a chancel north wall ledger stone with strapwork decoration and heraldic arms in relief, partly obscured by a radiator. The north aisle contains monuments to the Mayow family of Bray, including a classical marble monument to Philip Mayow (died 1710) and Frances his daughter (died 1717) with a broken freestone pediment and coat of arms, and a 19th-century brass monument to Philip Wynell Mayow and family members (1844–1895) with good lettering. The south transept west wall bears a slate ledger stone of Walter Coode (died 1637) showing kneeling parents and children allegorically expressed by fruits growing from branches issuing from parents, with skulls above the fruits indicating, according to Pevsner, the death of the children before the parents. The east wall of the transept contains 19th and 20th-century memorials to the Tremayne, Buller-Kitson, and Kitson families. The bells were re-hung in 1928.