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Churches of the British Isles

Gallery: Churches of Cornwall

by Jo Lewis, 11 September 2018. Updated 28 April 2021

Carrick (South-East) Part 9: Churches of Threthewell to St Anthony Head

Church of St Gerrens, Carrick, Cornwall

St Gerrans (or St Gerent) sits inside the village square between Churchtown Road and Higher Town. Gerontius (Geraint, or Gerren ap Dungarth) was an early eighth century king of Dumnonia. The building which bears his name was dedicated in 1261, on the site of an earlier Celtic church. It was enlarged in the fifteenth century when the south and aisle and the tower and spire were added. In 1849 everything except the tower was rebuilt by William White of Truro.

Gerrans Bible Christian Chapel, St Gerrans, Cornwall

Gerrans Bible Christian Chapel is off Churchtown Road, down a tiny alley that makes it very difficult to photograph. Built to serve specifically as a Bible Christian chapel, this building was registered in 1852 but was certainly used for prayer meetings before that. Between 1907 and 1932 the chapel served as Gerrans United Methodist Church, separate from the local Wesleyans (see below). Following unification, the chapel closed in 1936 and is now a private residence.

Gerrans Wesleyan Chapel, St Gerrans, Cornwall

Gerrans Wesleyan Chapel is on the east side of Churchtown Road, north of the Higher Town road junction. The original Wesleyan chapel of 1852 lay down a turning almost opposite. The new building opened as Gerrans Methodist Church in 1932, now separated from the United Methodists down the road (see above). In 1987, it united with Portscatho's Methodists and this chapel was closed in favour of theirs. It was sold in 1990 and is now two luxury holiday homes.

Rosteague Old Chapel, St Gerrans, Cornwall

Rosteague Old Chapel, or Rosteague St Mary the Virgin Chapel, is on the Rosteague Estate, about 1400 kilometres south of St Gerrans (see above), on the peninsula's easternmost road. St Gerran's Lady Chapel commemorates the fifteenth century existence of the chapel and its dedication. The landowner in 1401, John Petit, had licence to celebrate divine service here. Today the estate is privately owned by the Milton family, and the chapel is now a converted toilet.

Church of St Anthony in Roseland, Sy Anthony, Cornwall

St Anthony in Roseland at St Anthony Head lies close to the navigable creek which separates it from St Mawes, and sits immediately behind St Anthony in Roseland cottages. During the twelfth century much of the land here was owned by the Augustinian Priory at Plympton in Devon. The prior established the church here in 1259, dedicated to St Antonius, to replace a Norman church of about 1150. By 1860 it had become very dilapidated and was rebuilt and restored.

Bohortha Wesleyan Chapel, St Anthony, Cornwall

The lost Bohortha Wesleyan Chapel stood in the village of Bohortha (formerly St Anthony village but the name changed to match a farm-holding in the area which was also named Behortha or Bohollow). Initially there seems to have been a Wesleyan Methodist chapel on St Anthony's Head. An 1888 map confirms that, while there also exists the name of St Anthony in Roseland Methodist Church and an accounts book for 1863-1953. A modern bungalow now sits on the site.

All photos on this page by Jo Lewis.

 

 

     
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