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Parish Church of:
Constantine
The church of St. Constantine is a foundation of great
antiquity, there being evidences to prove that a church
(apparently collegiate) was in existence here at the time of
the Doomsday survey; it must long have held, and still
holds, a very important position in the neighbourhood, and
is most beautifully situated, commanding a full view of the
thickly wooded estates of Trelowarren, and of the fertile
valley above the lovely estuary of the Helford; it is a
building of very fine proportions, constructed chiefly of
granite and consists of chancel, nave, aisles, Bosahan aisle
or chapel, north porch and an embattled western tower , with
pinnacles, containing 3 bells, all cast in 1809; five of the
windows are stained: the rood loft stairs, sedilia and a
stoup in the south porch remain; there are brasses and other
memorials to members of the Trefusis, Carminowe, Pindarves,
Grylls, Vivian, Bolitho, Pender and Rogers families; there
is also a very interesting palimpsest brass to Richard
Gervey esq. ob. 1574, and Jane (Trefusis) his wife and 16
children, with effigies and an inscription: the obverse
displays of effigies of both under a double arch, the male
figure being in civil costume; between them is a quartered
shield, and in a long compartment below are the figures of
eight boys and 8 girls; the whole is inclosed in a marginal
inscription, showing that both were buried on the same day,
Oct 2, 1574; this brass on being taken up for restoration by
Mr. J.G. Waller F.S.A, in 1860, was found to be palimpest,
the reverse exhibiting the head and breast of a knight in
armour, c. 1375, of Flemish work; the head rests on a
diapered tunic, supported by angels, and the tunic is
heraldic, being charged with a bendlet between 3 crescents;
the brass exhibited at a meeting of the Soc. Antiq. Lond.
Nov 15, 1860, has now been replaced: at the east end of the
Bosahan aisle is a brass to John Pendarves esq. ob. 16 July.
1616, Melior (Gearveis) his wife, ob. 17 Mar. 1607, and tow
children; it has effigies of both, kneeling before a table,
and a child behind each parent; above is a shield of arms,
impaled, and at the foot an inscription ; there is also a
monument to Jane (Penticost), wife of William Thomas, ob.
1597, and others of later date; the work of restoration was
commenced in 1859, when a sum of £635 was expended on the
interior; in 1878 massive and beautiful roofs were placed
over the chancel, nave and aisles, at a cost of over £1,200;
in 1883 the restoration of the tower and the Bosahan or
Trefusis aisle, and the enlargement of the churchyard was
carried out, a large addition to the latter being given by
the Rev. Sir Vyell Donnithorne Vyvyab bart. of Trelowarren;
there are 550 sittings. The register date from the year
1581.
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