Location Grade Denomination Church of England Parish St Ruan with St Grade Province Province of Canterbury Deanery Kerrier | Country England Dedication St Grada & Holy Cross Diocese Diocese of Truro Archdeaconry Cornwall Heritage designation Listed building | |
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Similar Hurst Spit, Coronation Chair, Kinniside Stone Circle, The Lizard | ||
St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Grade is the Church of England parish church of Grade with Ruan, Cornwall. The church is a Grade I listed building, having been added to the listed buildings register on 10 July, 1957.
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History
The church of St Grada and Holy Cross has mediaeval origins: however, apart from the tower, the present structure dates from 1862 - 1863. The church was built to the designs of the architect Edward William Godwin of Bristol. The font from the previous church was retained. The serpentine and Caen pulpit was the gift of the Lizard Serpentine Company. The lectern was the gift of Mr. Cox, the agent of the company. The church was reopened for worship on 24 July 1863.
The parish was called St Cross in 1261, but by 1310 it was known as St Grada, Virgin. The font dates from the 13th century and the church contains a brass to James Eryssy and his wife, 1522.
Church
Parts of the church, which is built in the Decorated style, are of thirteenth century origin; the tower dates from around 1400, but the thirteenth and fourteenth century nave and chancel were rebuilt in 1862, incorporating some of the original structure. The construction is mainly of rubble stone, with some large blocks of granite and serpentine in the tower. There are separate slated, steeply-sloping roofs for the nave, chancel, vestry and porch. The unbuttressed tower is at the west end and has two stages. The organ was built by Brewer and Co. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Parish status
The settlements of Grade, Ruan Major and Ruan Minor were united into a single civil parish called Grade-Ruan in 1934. The former parish church of Ruan Major is now in ruins. St Grada & Holy Cross is part of a group of parishes comprising: