Church Of St Petroc Minor

The Church of St Petroc Minor is a parish church dedicated to St Petroc Minor, with origins dating back to the 14th century. It was restored in 1858 by William White and again in 1908 by Sir Ninian Comper. The church is built of slate stone rubble and snecked slate stone, topped with slate roofs.

The plan reflects its 14th-century origins, with the south aisle rebuilt in 1741. In 1750, a wooden tower was replaced with a stone tower, which was rebuilt again in 1858 by William White under the orders of Sir Hugh Molesworth. White also extended the north aisle by one bay. During the time of Rev. G.W. Manning from 1862 to 1876, the church walls were covered in stencilled texts. Sir Ninian Comper restored the church, removing the stencils and adding the high altar, reredos, and a rood screen with loft. A chapel was added between 1916 and 1920 to commemorate Mrs. Andelusia Riley.

The exterior features a squat west tower with two stages, a pyramid roof, and a weather cock. It has carved corner pinnacles and lancet belfry openings with slate louvers. The 19th-century tracery includes gabled full dormers on the south slope of the roof. There is a two-storey vestry in the northeast corner with a battlemented parapet and a reset four-centred Catacleuse stone arch leading to the south porch.

Inside, the church has a panelled waggon roof from around 1825 and a five-bay south aisle with moulded four-centred arches. The font dates from the 15th century, and there are some 16th-century bench ends. Most furnishings are from the 19th century, including a royal coat of arms from 1741. The church is particularly notable for Comper's work, which includes a fine rood screen with a loft above, carved by John Parsons of St Teath and decorated by artists under the supervision of H.A. Bernard Smith. The high altar and reredos are also of high quality. There is a fine monument to Andelusia Riley in the memorial chapel to the south of the chancel.