Location Lansallos Denomination Church of England Dedication St Ildierna Parish Lansallos Designated as world heritage site 1331 | Country England Churchmanship Broad church Deanery West Wivelshire Diocese Diocese of Truro Heritage designation Listed building | |
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Address Polperro Heritage Coast, Lansallos, Looe PL13 2PX, UK Similar St Ladoca's Church - Ladock, St Tallanus' Church - Talland, St Sennen's Church - S, St Nonna's Church - Altarnun, Tavistock Abbey | ||
St Ildierna’s Church, Lansallos is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Lansallos, Cornwall.
Contents
History
The church dates from 1331 when it was dedicated. It was restored in 1883–84 and again in the early 20th century by Edmund Harold Sedding. The chronicler William Worcester, when visiting Fowey, recorded that the church contained the remains of St Hyldren, reputedly a bishop; however documentary evidence indicates that the parish patron saint was female. St Hyldren's feast was February 1. The advowson was a rectory formerly belonging to the Hywysche family whose seat at "Rathwylle" (Raphael) had its own chapel, mentioned in 1332. The church's features of interest include the good carved wagon roofs, the square Norman font ornamented with a "tree of life", 16th-century benches and bench ends, of which 34 remain, and its Jacobean vestment cupboards. A rare contemporary slate memorial tablet survives, commemorating Margaret Smith (died 1579) and the work of the stonemason Peter Crocker. In 2005 a fire started in the northern aisle of the church, causing serious damage to the building.
Organ
The organ by Heard and Son is no longer present in the church. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.