From the reaches of Whitsand bay on a windy, wintry day, the distant spire intrigued and invited. Drawing near, the church of St Germanus, and said spire proved to be quite unique for Cornwall. Built in ‘broach’ fashion (octagonal by means of triangular faces, and tapering from a square base.)
“That tower, so built to take the light
Of sun by day and moon by night
Which centuries of weather there
Have mellowed it to twice as fair”
From Churchyards ~ John Betjeman
Approaching via the raised churchyard – the many souls buried there on all sides, made for a companionable group of past congregants though both the living and the dead would have come to church via the covered Lychgate
Dedicated to St Germanus on 15 October 1259 by the Bishop of Exeter. The church still retains some 13th features with both 15th century and mid- Victorian additions. Thankfully, it remains open and inside is surprisingly light and atmospheric.
There is no gas or electricity so the pew ends and chancel archway hold candles for services whilst air for the organ is necessarily hand-pumped. All beautifully swept and polished too.
“Let’s praise the cleaner of the aisles
The nave and candlesticks and tiles.
Let’s praise the organist who tries
To make the choir increase in size”
Betjeman ~ ” Septuagesima”
Under a barrel rooved interior, were some remarkable Victorian carvings for the Chancel entrance
Leaving the church towards sundown, I rather envied these their last resting place overlooking the sea and the setting sun and alas there was no time to visit the nearby little chapel of St. Michael on the summit of Rame Head, which stands on a much earlier, Celtic, hermitage.
Thursday Thoughts: Some random topics for prose and photos though churches may feature
PoetryPix 