Parish of St Mewan

ST MEWAN PARISH CHURCH



See Ryan's page for more information on St Mewan

Vicarage - same as Sticker
Tower Bells

St Mewan is today no more than a hamlet consisting of a large primary school, the old Rectory and the New Rectory and the Church which bears the name of its patron saint.

In Domesday times Mewan (then known as Mevenus and later in Brittany as Me'en) was a far more highly esteemed saint than St Austol (who was possible his godson). Mewan was probably born in the 6th Century in Gwent (South Wales) and having come to St Mewan travelled on later to Brittany where he also established a church.

The present church dates back to Norman times and was probably cruciform in shape and constructed in local granite. Most of the present building was contracted in the 15th Century. In 1875 the church suffered a typically Victorian style restoration and the wagon roof was replaced by the present structure.

The present church serves the villages of Trewoon, Polgooth, Trelowth and Sticker.(see details on Mission Church here). It is a lively Parish Church which serves all the parish and has a full programme of activities for young and old There are also very strong links with the four Methodist Churches in the parish.

Interesting features include the tower which appears to have stopped short of its intended height through lack of funds The legend says that the Devil disapproved of the project so he threw down the top stones until the builders gave up! The tower has 6 bells and is in regular use.

Another interesting feature of the Church is the Font which dates from the 14th Century and stands on an earlier Norman base. Also the pew ends in the Sanctury have carvings on them of the gospel evangelists.

KEYS St Mewan Church is open some afternoons during and when volunteers are available but the key can be obtained from the Rectory at most other times. A phone call before hand would ensure that someone was available to open up. (01726-72679)

Sunday Services (see notice board in porch for full details)
8am Holy Communion (BCP);
10am Morning Worship:
6pm Evening Worship


Complete Parochial History of the County of Cornwall
Compiled from the Best Authorities and corrected and improved from actual survey Vol.II Truro; William Lake, Boscawen street.ondon John Camden Hotten, , Piccadilly, 1868
S Mewan

Hals

S Mewan rectory is situate in the hundred of Powder, and hath upon the north, S. Stephens and Roach; east, S. Austell; south, Mevagissey; and south-west, Creed.

In the Domesday Book this district was taxed either under the jurisdiction of Branell, Tybesta, Towing ton, or Refishoe, perhaps now Lefisick. In the Inquisition of the Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester into the value of Cornish Benefices, 1294, Ecclesia de S. Mewany in decantu de Powdre, was rated 40s, in Wolsey's Inquisition , 1521, 10 pounds. The patronage in Hamley, formerly in the prior of Tywardreth, who endowed it; the incumbent Mitchell; and the paris rated to the 4s. per pound Land Tax, 1696, temp. William III.. 91 pound 6s. 4d.

Pol-godh, Pol-goyh, is in this parish. Out of which mine hath been taken up,in less then forty years space, about five hundred thousand pounds weight of tin; to the great enriching the labourers, adventurers, bound-owers, and lords of the fee or soil; the same lying for the most part in coase wastrel groound, therefore boundable in a valley between two lofty hills. Sir John Arundell, of Lanherne, knight, one of the lords of the soil, did for about twenty years' space receive alone one thousand pounds per annum free to his part, as the fifth dish of black tin there made, and others lordsproportionable quantities of tin or money, as interested in the lands thereof.

Lefisick in this parish, which I take to be that Refishoe taxed in the Doomsday Book, is the dwelling of -------Edward, gent., that married Belford.

Tonkin

The patronage of this parish is in John Hockins, D.D., for two turns in four; in Lewes Tremayne, of Heligan,Esq., for one turn; and Robert Hoblyn, of Nanswiddan, Esq for the other. The incumbent Mr William Hambly; since Mr May; who dying in this present year, 1732, has been suceeded by Mr. Paget, at the presentation of Mr Hoblyn, whose turn it happened to be.

The Manor of Trewoone. This signifies the dwelling in the downs, or croft, a name suitable to the situation of the place, and of the pretty large village which has grown up in this manor.

-------------------- The parish of S Mewan is situated in the deanery and hundred of Powder; it is bounded on the north and east by S. Austell; on the south by S. Ewe; and on the west by S. Stephens in Branwel.

The estimaated tithable lands of the parish amount to 2240a; which are thus subdivided, --arable, 862a.3r.24p.; meadow, 416a.Ir. 27p.;woodland, 1a. 2r; furze brakes, enclosed mors, and sites of farm buildings, 284a.; commons, 640a. 0r. 29p.; and glebe, 35a.

The commons abovenamed are parts and parcels of the several manors of Trewoon, Burngullow, and Trelowith, and belong to those manors respectively.

The tithes are commuted at 285 pounds 7s. 6d., inclusive of 10 pound 7s. 6d. payable on the glebe when not in the manurance of the rector. The patronage is vested in C.H.T. Hawkins, Esq., for two turns; Sir C.G. Sawle, Bart., for one turn; and John Tremayne, Esq., for one turn.

The Parish contains by acctual admeasurement, 2632a. 0r. 19p.; of which the glebe lands measure 42a. 2r. 3p. ; and the church and churchyard, 3r. 14p..

Rectors; - 10 Augusti, 1318, Thomas de Eglosmerther, was admitted ad ecclesian Sancti Mewani, on the presentation of the lady Jane de Valletort. 14 April, 1328, Thomas Dauner or d'Auner, was admitted ad ecclesiam Sancti Meuhani. 12 November1336, Richard Marcys or Mortys, was instituted in Ecclesia Sancti Mewany. 15 January, 1349, John de Trenant was admitted ad Ecclesian parochialem Sancti Mewani . Henry Gathel, presentd by William Talbot, 1370. John Eck, 1403. In 1454 there was a commission of enquiry respecting the patronage of TalbotWilliam Hendre of S Goran, exchanged with John Eck, 1423 Thomas Facey. John Lovet, on the death of Thomas Facey, 1498. John Porter presented by John Speke, 1523. John Lowgata or Ludgar, rector in 1536. -- Veysey's Valor. John Cock, on the death of John Lowgat, 1568. Anthony Kelly, 1573. Thomas Jackson, presented by Thomas Goblin, of S. Goran, 1603. Thomas Ford. Radulph Mitchell, by the cession of Thomas Ford, 1694. William Hambly, 1724. Samuel May, 1728, by cession William Hambly. Franncis Paget, 1732. Edward Carthew, 1742, by cession of Paget.. John Borlase, son of Dr. Borlase, the antiquary, 1754. William Hocker, 1802. And the present recor, the Rev. R.T. Wilson-Taylor, B.A., oxford, admitted June 21, 1842.

The church, which is supposed to be about 600 years old, is dedicated to S. Mewanus; it comprises a channel, nave, south aisle, and north transept. The inner arch of the chancel window is supported on shafts with craved heads for capitals. There is a piscina in the channel, in the north wall of which there is a good strained glass window, representing Christ blessing little Children. 'In November, 1863, the beatyful stained of the north chancel was maliciously broken from the outside; a reward of 20 pounds was offered by the rector for the discovery of the culpit."

A window of stained glass in the north wall of the nave represents the Savior in his baptism, - with the doctors in the temple, - and with Nicodomus.

The pulpitnand eagle lectern are of carved oak, and cost 100 pounds; around the facia of the former is craved the folowinf inscription from Romans X, 15. "How shall they preach except they be sent."

In the transept are two windows of stained glass; one has a red cross, and the other represents - The Sower, with the words "the word of God"- Christ knocking, with the words, "Behold I stand at the door and knock," -- and the Good Shepherd, with the inscription- "My sheep hear my voice and I know them."

The arcade consists of three four-centred arches of S Stephens porcelain stone, with pillars of the same material.

The font is octagonal; it consists of a bowl of porcelain stone resting on a shaft and base of Polyphant stone; around the shaft is inscribed "ONE LORD +ONE FAITH + ONE BAPTISM+"

The pews thougtout are of the most convenient description, and were especially designed by a member of the present rector's fsmily.

The tower arch, which is moulded, and open to the church, is also of porcelain stone. The tower window is of stained glass and displays full lenght figures of S Paul and S John the Divine. The entrances to the church are a south porch, a priest's door, and awest door.

The tower is of two stages only, strongly buttressed on the square, and finished with a low pyramidal roof of slate. It was evidently intended for a lofty structur at the design sa the design is bod and well-developed, and the workmanship masterly. The belfry contains five bells, which are inscribed as follows, -1. The Rev. Rev. Edward Carthue minister. A.R., 1748. 2. Thos. Paull and Stephn. Harris Ch. wardens. A.R., 1748. 3. Abel Rudhall of Gloucester east us all. A.R., 1748. 4. When you ring the bef.ll, we'll sweety sing. A.R.1748 5. Peace and good neighbourhood. A.R.,1748. There there is an apparatus for chiming, but it is now out on repair.


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