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Parish Church of:
Michael Penkivel, St
The original church of St. Michael was consecrated by Walter Bromescombe, Bishop of Exeter, 13th August, 1261, in the reign of Henry III; the present edifice of killas stone, with Pentewan and Beer stone dressings, in the Early Decorated style, was rebuilt on the site of the former church in 1862-6, by Viscount Falmouth, from designs by G.E. Street esq. R.A. the materials of the old building being utilised. The church originally consisted of chancel and nave only, but in the reign of Edward II, the north transept, west tower and south porch were added by the Trejago family and afterwards the south transept by the Trenowyths; it now consists of chancel, nave, transept, south porch and a western tower with spire containing 4 bells, dated 1865; the open roofs are of pitch pine, the reading desk and seats are all of English oak, with carved finials, moulded work and paneling; the font id of Pentwewan stone, finely chiseled, as also are the chancel screen and pulpit;
the latter is highly enriched with inlaid serpentine marble, spar and alabaster: the reredos of sculptured alabaster represents the “Resurrection,” and events in the life of Our Lord: the church contains several monuments and memorials of much interest of which the ancient are tow early coffin shaped slabs of Purbeck marble, moulded on the edges and bearing foliated crosses: in the south transept is a brass with effigy in hauberk and plate armour to John Trenowyth esq, ob. March 13, 1497: on the north side of the chancel is another, with effigy in academical dress and a mutilated shield of arms, to John Trembras M.A. a former rector, ob. 13, Sept. 1515: in the north transept are brass effigies, with an inscription to Edw. Boscawen, of Nancarrow, gent. ob. 15 Feb. 1619, and Jane (White), his wife; and from the mouth of the male figure proceeds a scroll, containing a Latin paraphrase of St. John v. 24; near this is a brass with effigy, a shield of arms and inscription
to Mary (Boscawen), widow of Peter Coffin, gent. 4 Sept. 1622; on the east wall of this transept is a third brass, erected in 1634 by Hugh his nephew, to John Boscawen, of Tregothnan esq, ob. 6 May, 1564; at the top is a kneeling effigy in armour, a scroll with legend proceeding there from, a shield of arms and warlike emblems, and below are six English verses: there are also many monuments to the Boscawens, viscounts Falmouth from 1559 to 1864, by Rysbrack, Nellekens and others; during the restoring and rebuilding of the walls a great quantity of well-wrought fragments of stonework were discovered, once forming screens, niches and sedilia; these fragments are now in the tower chantry, where are also an ancient stone altar and piscine; in the north-east angle of the chancel is preserved the original foundation stone of the church, consisting of a slab of granite 23ft. 6in. by 2ft. and 6in. thick, on the face of which is cut the following inscription:
SCS MICH
WAR EPI
AR CH
At the end of the church is the place of internment of the Boscawen family; the stained window in the north transept was presented by Anne Frances, late countess of Falmouth, s a memorial to her son, George Henry, second and last Earl of Falmouth, who died 29th August, 1852; there are other stained windows in the chancel, south transept and nave, and of these, three in the chancel were designed and painted by Lady Falmouth; in the floor of the south transept is the original altar slab, now placed over the grave of John Carminow esq, who died about the 15th century: there are 150 sittings. This parish possesses and exceptional ancient register dating from the year 1516,
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