Churches of the British Isles

The original cruciform building here was Norman. Some parts of it survive in the present church which replaced it in the thirteenth century. Additions include the south aisle in the late fourteenth century, and a tower and steeple which can be dated to the middle or late fifteenth century. The north wall contains a thirteenth century doorway which later was blocked up but remains visible from the exterior, with carved heads at the apex and at each of the two label stops.

The tower was decayed by 1606, so the steeple was removed in favour of the bigger tower which survives today. Within that tower is a ring of ten bells, including four new bells which only recently were added. Four of the original bells date from 1722, the fifth was cast in celebration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The church was reordered in 2016 to add modern facilities at the west end. A chapel chair of the 1400s/1500s is believed to depict St Goran himself.

St Just Chapel-of-Ease, Gorran Haven, is on the eastern side of Church Street. Opened in the 1400s as a chapel-of-ease, St Just perhaps replaced an older chapel. It is believed to have been built by Henry Bodrugan. It was sold in 1568 by Queen Elizabeth I, becoming a fishermen's store, and then a ruin. It hosted dissenting services from 1779 and, from 1812, it was the Congregationalist Old Chapel Cellar, until the congregation moved to Mount Zion (see 'related links').

It was also briefly used by Wesleyans before they moved (see links). It was brought back into use by the Anglican Church, being repaired in the mid-1800s and then restored in 1885 under the tender hand of J P St Aubyn. The altar rail is made of carved fifteenth century roof timbers which are said to have come from the church of St Goran. St Just is licensed for services and baptisms only. Weddings are also held, by special licence, but the church seats only forty-four.

Gorran Haven Bible Christian Chapel was short-lived. Some confusion exists about the village's early independents, but records suggests this chapel was built in August 1831 at the bottom of Cliff Road, in the middle of three gardens of what are now Rose Cottages. Later, in October 1836, the land was sold to the chapel's members by William Hugoe, but the chapel was closed down sometime between 1842-1848. Local memory survives of it being located in the gardens.

Two photos on this page by Jo Lewis, three copyright © David Smith (two) and Steven Craven via Geograph, reused under a cc licence, and one from Rightmove.