History
with Minster Church
St Merthiana’s church, better known as Minster, is the mother church of Boscastle and means rock-chapel or cell. It was formerly named Talkarn/Tolcarne and has been a religious site since around the year 500AD, along with its holy well.
A Welsh princess called St Merthiana died here and is alleged to be buried in the chancel area of the church. Recent excavations at nearby Tintagel have revealed evidence of a Christain burial which dates back as far as the 5th century AD.
The church was originally built in 1150 by William De Bottreaux, Lord of Bottreaux Castle, whose father fought with William the Conqueror. The church was then given to the Benedictine order of monks in Anjou, in his native France. At that time the church consisted of the sanctuary, chancel, nave and tower base.
In 1507 the rector John Trelawny carried out the 1st restoration of the church. A south aisle was added, as well as a chapel. The porch was rebuilt as well as the upper part of the tower. This particular restoration is reflective of the perpendicular period. In 1843 a second restoration followed. A fine carved oak chancel screen –which divided the most holy part of the church: the chancel and the altar, from the congregation, was removed. By 1869 the fabric was in a state and the roof had collapsed. Unfortunately in the restoration that followed, the barrel vault roof (which has a semicircular cross section and is the simplest form of vault) was removed along with the carved images of that era.
In the nave were box pews, with beautifully carved bench ends showing either leaves, animals or figures. Items in the singer’s gallery (in the west end) were all burnt, sold or given away. One or two bench ends were saved and now form part of the altar front at Forrabury church.
The Priory: The priory led off the chancel (area leading up to the altar) to the north by a door which is now a small perpendicular window in the north wall. Outside is evidence of an entrance door sited in the original church. The priory was eventually demolished some time after the monks left in the early 1800’s.
Peculiar to the 17th & 18th centuries were three decker pulpits, the 1st level was for the clerk, the 2nd for the reader and the 3rd for the preacher. Today the 3 decker has been replaced by the present one.
Commencing forward, one notes the rectangular shape of the church and is drawn toward the arcade, which is found in the north and south transepts. These are curved supports made up of wedge sections of simple Norman design. The capital, the top most section of the pillar (less massive than a pier) features a basic four leafed carved flower which are Norman.
In the south transept grander, taller arches can be found of early English period. Built circa 12th century. The piers are early English, with the capitols of simple, repeated design.
From here the eyes are drawn upwards to the roof. At Minster the roof is one of the earliest & simplest designs, suited most probably to the rest of the building. The roof consists of a timber tie beam with a central king post.
Windows : In the area leading up to the altar, known as the chancel, there are two (circa) 13th century windows, which are in keeping. The fenestration in the nave and south aisle appears stylistically to date from the 16th - 17th centuries.
In the north wall of the nave can be found 2 & 3 light 16th century fenestration. In the north wall of the chancel there is a lancel window, circa 13th century, know especially to the early English period. Much of the tracery is perpendicular, made of stone.
Pews/Altar :Unfortunately Minster’s original pew ends were lost in a fire in the late 1800’s. Luckily, the altar is of the similar style and original wood, in the form of a chest.The pews were well decorated, finely carved with a flower finial or poppy head at the top. Therefore the original pew ends were probably Norman too.
Tower : Minster’s tower is possibly 13th century and possibly remodelled in the late 15th-16th centuries. It is of simple form, with a roof of slate and built of granite. On the outside of the tower is carved a pair of scissors, their meaning unknown, but thought to be the mark of the maker?
Despite some Norman features, Minster retains a large Gothic/early English influence in its style. The churches architecture is generally lighter, more graceful and less massive than the Norman style. Minster also features (briefly) the Decorated era, style of the 14th century. But the largest influence would have to be the Perpendicular era, dating from about 1360. It gets its name from the straight upward lines of the windows and arches, usually meeting in a point at the top.
St Merthiana’s church, better known as Minster, is the mother church of Boscastle and means rock-chapel or cell. It was formerly named Talkarn/Tolcarne and has been a religious site since around the year 500AD, along with its holy well.
A Welsh princess called St Merthiana died here and is alleged to be buried in the chancel area of the church. Recent excavations at nearby Tintagel have revealed evidence of a Christain burial which dates back as far as the 5th century AD.
The church was originally built in 1150 by William De Bottreaux, Lord of Bottreaux Castle, whose father fought with William the Conqueror. The church was then given to the Benedictine order of monks in Anjou, in his native France. At that time the church consisted of the sanctuary, chancel, nave and tower base.
In 1507 the rector John Trelawny carried out the 1st restoration of the church. A south aisle was added, as well as a chapel. The porch was rebuilt as well as the upper part of the tower. This particular restoration is reflective of the perpendicular period. In 1843 a second restoration followed. A fine carved oak chancel screen –which divided the most holy part of the church: the chancel and the altar, from the congregation, was removed. By 1869 the fabric was in a state and the roof had collapsed. Unfortunately in the restoration that followed, the barrel vault roof (which has a semicircular cross section and is the simplest form of vault) was removed along with the carved images of that era.
In the nave were box pews, with beautifully carved bench ends showing either leaves, animals or figures. Items in the singer’s gallery (in the west end) were all burnt, sold or given away. One or two bench ends were saved and now form part of the altar front at Forrabury church.
The Priory: The priory led off the chancel (area leading up to the altar) to the north by a door which is now a small perpendicular window in the north wall. Outside is evidence of an entrance door sited in the original church. The priory was eventually demolished some time after the monks left in the early 1800’s.
Peculiar to the 17th & 18th centuries were three decker pulpits, the 1st level was for the clerk, the 2nd for the reader and the 3rd for the preacher. Today the 3 decker has been replaced by the present one.
Commencing forward, one notes the rectangular shape of the church and is drawn toward the arcade, which is found in the north and south transepts. These are curved supports made up of wedge sections of simple Norman design. The capital, the top most section of the pillar (less massive than a pier) features a basic four leafed carved flower which are Norman.
In the south transept grander, taller arches can be found of early English period. Built circa 12th century. The piers are early English, with the capitols of simple, repeated design.
From here the eyes are drawn upwards to the roof. At Minster the roof is one of the earliest & simplest designs, suited most probably to the rest of the building. The roof consists of a timber tie beam with a central king post.
Windows : In the area leading up to the altar, known as the chancel, there are two (circa) 13th century windows, which are in keeping. The fenestration in the nave and south aisle appears stylistically to date from the 16th - 17th centuries.
In the north wall of the nave can be found 2 & 3 light 16th century fenestration. In the north wall of the chancel there is a lancel window, circa 13th century, know especially to the early English period. Much of the tracery is perpendicular, made of stone.
Pews/Altar :Unfortunately Minster’s original pew ends were lost in a fire in the late 1800’s. Luckily, the altar is of the similar style and original wood, in the form of a chest.The pews were well decorated, finely carved with a flower finial or poppy head at the top. Therefore the original pew ends were probably Norman too.
Tower : Minster’s tower is possibly 13th century and possibly remodelled in the late 15th-16th centuries. It is of simple form, with a roof of slate and built of granite. On the outside of the tower is carved a pair of scissors, their meaning unknown, but thought to be the mark of the maker?
Despite some Norman features, Minster retains a large Gothic/early English influence in its style. The churches architecture is generally lighter, more graceful and less massive than the Norman style. Minster also features (briefly) the Decorated era, style of the 14th century. But the largest influence would have to be the Perpendicular era, dating from about 1360. It gets its name from the straight upward lines of the windows and arches, usually meeting in a point at the top.
Bats in the Belfrey
Minister Church is also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, for its population of greater horseshoe bats, a rare and threatened species in the European and British Red Data Books. The church supports the largest known greater horseshoe bat maternity roost in Cornwall, one of the largest in the UK.
For more details see here
For more details see here