MEVAGISSEY - Dedicated to St. Peter
MEVAGISSEY - Dedicated to St. Peter
Mevagissey Telecottage
Town Information
Rectory: (01726) 842488
Mevagissey derives it name from St. Meva & St. Issey although the Parish Church, is dedicated to St Peter. There are traces of a cruciform Norman Church but there are now only the chancel, nave, north aisle, transept and porch. This is mainly 15th century work, although the font is Norman. The building was restored by J. P. St. Aubyn in 1887-88, being capped before that time with a saddleback
roof.
Points for the visitor to note include:
The Norman Font;
the 14th century window in the
transept;
a slate memorial to Otwell & Mary
Hill in the Chancel;
Royal Arms
and the ancient base to
the Tower.
The Tower became ruinous during Commonwealth times and the bells were sold to a St. Austell Quaker, named Grouden, to raise funds for taking the tower down. At one time the popular name for the village was 'Porthilly! and the affair was summed up in the rhyme:
"Ye men of Porthilly,
Why were ye so silly
In having so little a power?
Ye sold every bell,
As Goran men tell,
For money to pull down the Tower!"
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