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Parish Church of:
Michael Caerhays, St
The church of St. Michael, standing alone, on the top of a hill, is a building of stone, with granite facings, consisting of chancel, nave, north transept, south aisle of two bays, south porch and an embattled western tower containing 3 bells, all with inscriptions in Old English letters, the two last being invocations of St. Thomas and St. Barbara: all the windows are stained, and there is a fine reredos of mosaic work and a parclose of carved oak, both executed by the Rev. William Willmott M.A. rector 1852-78 : at the end of the aisle is a statue, life size of a British naval officer, wielding an actual sword, and said to represent one of the Bettesford family: in the arcade a number of helmets are suspended, and here hangs al;so the sword said to have been worn by Sir Hugh Trevanion at Bosworth field, 21 Aug. 1485: in the transept is a sepulchral arch, and here also remain the rood loft stairs: the south porch has a stoup and aumbry and on the north side is a
pre-Norman doorway in a good state of preservation: there is a memorial to Mr. Zacharie Hooker, rector, 1643, and some others of later date; the church was partially restored in 1864 by the late John Michael Williams esq. M.P. of Caerhays Castle, in 1883: there are 80 sittings. The register of baptisms and marriages dates from the year 1594; burials 1580.
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