Churches of the British Isles

Trelawne Manor (First) Chapel sat within the manor itself, which is found by returning to the road and heading south through Trelawne Mill and then taking the right-hand turning to Trelawne Manor Holiday Village. It is possible to drive in and follow the road around to the old manor house. The site of Bishop Trelawney's old chapel is marked on maps, a little offline from the later chapel (see below), at the far end of the house. It was built (or re-built) in 1703.

In 1836 the chapel was described as having a beautifully vaulted roof of carved oak. The 1860 Trelawne Manor (Second) Chapel and rebuilt south front was due to Sir John Trelawny. The present chapel was built by J P St Aubyn in 1874. Before replastering, the chapel's rear wall showed clearly where the staircase once connected, while the doorway shows the floor height of the then-landing. The door accessed what became the billiard room and library, now a linen store.

Sclerder Abbey and the twin chapels of Our Lady of Light form part of a former Carmelite monastery, which is located on Sclerder Lane, a short way to the south of Trelawne, on the western side of the road which heads southwards to Porthallow. The original abbey chapel (Our Lady of Light) was built in 1840 while the abbey was founded in 1843. When the public church was added in the 1920s (see below), the earlier chapel became the nun's chapel.

The original chapel is orientated east-west. The two buildings share a common chancel, with a wrought iron grille in the chancel arch of the public church which is opened for mass. The second church was added at a right angle to the original, in the 1920s. It was paid for by the White Star heiress, Amy Imrie, who had become the superior of the Poor Clares. The Carmelite nuns have been here since 1981, reordering and installing new stained glass from Buckfast Abbey.

The second, public church is entered through a stone porch which has a side entrance. This church provides Catholic services for the local community. In September 2014 the new community of Chemin Neuf moved in and is gradually renovating the Grade II listed building. Chemin Neuf form a worldwide Catholic community. The abbey now offers retreats and also continues to serve the local Catholic congregation with regular services and mass.

One photo on this page by Jo Lewis, one kindly contributed by Photography by DM & DBM, Flickr, via the History Files: Churches of the British Isles group, and three copyright © David Lally (two) and Paul Barnett via Geograph, reused under a cc licence.