St Ildierna's Church, Lansallos

St Ildierna's Church, Lansallos is a Grade I listed[1] parish church in the Church of England in Lansallos, Cornwall, built in the early 14th century. The church is noted for its 16th-century benches and bench ends. Serious damage was caused to the church, especially the roof, by a fire in 2005.

St Ildierna’s Church, Lansallos
St Ildierna’s Church, Lansallos
Map
50°20′8.2″N 4°34′9.9″W / 50.335611°N 4.569417°W / 50.335611; -4.569417
LocationLansallos
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipBroad church
History
DedicationSt Ildierna
Architecture
Designated1331
Specifications
Bells8 (1938)
Administration
ProvinceProvince of Canterbury
DioceseDiocese of Truro
ArchdeaconryBodmin
DeaneryWest Wivelshire
ParishLansallos
St Ildierna's Church, Lansallos is located in Cornwall
St Ildierna's Church, Lansallos
Location of St Ildierna's Church, Lansallos in Cornwall
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameChurch of St Ildierna
Designated21 August 1964
Reference no.1365628

History

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The church dates from 1331 when it was dedicated. The 15th-century chronicler William Worcester, when visiting Fowey, recorded that the church contained the remains of St Hyldren, reputedly a bishop; however documentary evidence indicates that the parish patron saint was female. St Hyldren's feast was February 1.[2] The advowson was a rectory formerly belonging to the Hywysche family whose seat at "Rathwylle" (Raphael) had its own chapel, mentioned in 1332.[3]

The church was restored in 1883–84 and again in the early 20th century by Edmund Harold Sedding, while the peal of eight bells was installed in 1938 by the then rector, the Reverend N Rivers-Tippett.[4]

The church's features of interest include the good carved wagon roofs, the square Norman font ornamented with a "tree of life", 16th-century benches and bench ends, of which 34 remain, and its Jacobean vestment cupboards.

A rare contemporary slate memorial tablet survives, commemorating Margaret Smith (died 1579) and the work of the stonemason Peter Crocker.[5]

In 2005 a fire started in the northern aisle of the church, causing serious damage to the building.[6]

 
Margaret Smith memorial by stonemason Peter Crocker

Organ

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The organ by Heard and Son is no longer present in the church. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[7]

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References

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  1. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Ildierna (Grade I) (1365628)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  2. ^ Cornish Church Guide (1925) Truro: Blackford; p. 10
  3. ^ Cornish Church Guide (1925) Truro: Blackford; pp. 132–33
  4. ^ Feesey, John (2019). "Lansallos Parish News". The Parish News. p. 4.
  5. ^ Pevsner, N. (1970) Cornwall; 2nd ed., rev. by Enid Radcliffe. Harmondsworth: Penguin; p. 93
  6. ^ "BBC NEWS | England | Cornwall | Medieval church damaged in fire". BBC News. London: BBC. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  7. ^ "NPOR [R00002]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 27 September 2015.