Churches of the British Isles

St Agnes Parish Church sits in the village's centre, on the right-hand side of the one way system. It is believed to have been built as a chapel-of-ease about 1482, on the foundation of what may have been an older church of AD 410-1066. Exeter's records of 1374 refer to a chapel of St Agnes in the Perranzabuloe parish. In 1846 it became a parish church and, two years later, the building's main body was restored by Piers St Aubyn. The spire was rebuilt in 1905.

In 1931, when the floor was relaid, a wall was found which ran along the nave. Subsequent investigation revealed it to be part of an oblong structure which had existed prior to the church building of 1482. Bases for fifteenth century pillars were found in the south-west corner, confirming the early site of the first church. On the south-western side, by the churchyard gate, is a medieval granite wayside cross, the remains of a lych stone which was used for holding coffins.

The former Whitworth Wesleyan Methodist Meeting House is to be found on Trevaunce Road, next to the vicarage. The Whitworth family built this small meeting house within the village when the local Wesleyan chapel was located some way away, in Goonown (see links). Built in 1851/1852 the meeting house was located at the rear of the Whitworth residence. It was used for prayer meetings for a few years before becoming a domestic garage.

Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church is further down Trevaunce Road. The name an ancient title for the Virgin Mary. This modern church was built in 1958 as a chapel-of-ease to Redruth's church (see links). The architects were Cowell, Drewitt, & Wheatly of Truro. At the west end is a small space, the former baptistery, with a stained glass window of the 'Stem of Jesse', made in the dalle de verre technique, perhaps directed by Dom C Norris of Buckfast Abbey.

Higher Bal (First & Second) Wesleyan Methodist Chapel is also on Trevaunce Road. It is on the right of the Higher Bal crossroads, close to the sea and at the base of St Agnes Beacon. An early society of 1814 may have failed here. The first chapel was built in 1837-1842, but was seriously damaged in a November 1870 storm. A wall collapsed, bringing down the roof. Beyond repair it was replaced in 1874 by the present building, which was later replaced in the 1940s (see links).

Five photos on this page by Jo Lewis, and one kindly contributed by Glass Angel via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group.