Ertach Kernow - Cornish churches supported through CHCT charity grants
Cornish churches, particularly those from the medieval period, which accounts for 80%, are an important part of Cornwall’s social history. In the days when folk were expected to attend church it was a way people met especially given that in rural areas communities were smaller and widely dispersed. These churches were the focal point of a parish where baptisms, marriages and burials took place. How many marriages would have taken place due to young couples meeting at their parish church. Often in larger parishes where it was difficult due to distance to attend the mother church, a chapel of ease would be established.
As always click the images for larger view
Today as society becomes more secular and turning away from religious practices our churches are less well attended and the upkeep falls to a dwindling number of people. Sadly there are those which close due to lack of community support and are left to decay. However there are those communities which value the church as a focal point of their village or town and make it a mission to preserve this aspect of their local heritage. Many may not be churchgoers themselves but value the building as a community asset. Often this comes down to those in control of that church and whether they are willing to evolve and make these historic buildings fit for 21st century use. Fortunately many of these medieval churches are now used for wider community use in hosting events such as concerts, exhibitions, local social groups and making themselves accessible to visitors. Some have used a range of historic archival material to make what might be called a small museum area, of the church and including the environs of the community the church serves. All these and even more activities should be welcomed as these keep church buildings relevant, used and raises funds to maintain the building.
Various projects are brought to my attention where groups ask if I can help promote their particular heritage project. St Tudy Historic Society are a very proactive group mentioned in earlier Ertach Kernow articles. Their Secretary Samantha Knight-Barnes also makes contributions to Historic England’s online database, supplying a great number of images for them. Sam forwarded information regarding their church project and appeal. A downloadable leaflet will be available shortly on the website blog at www.cornwallheritage.com with links to the appeal website. The tower roof at St Tudy Church is in great need of maintenance and an appeal has been launched to raise the funds. With the roof no longer fully waterproof, heavy rainfall is causing severe water ingress and is seriously damaging supporting timbers. This in turn proves a danger to the bells and also means they may have to remove their flagpole on which they proudly fly the Cornish ‘Baner Sen Peren’. Maintenance work on historic listed buildings is always expensive and St Tudy Church has a goal of £70,000 to carry out a long lasting effective job. They are off to a good start at just over fifteen thousand pounds and are running various fundraising events. On the 3rd May there is a Garden Party and Open Gardens event at the Grade II listed Tremeer House near St Tudy. This private property is not usually open to the public, so this event is a rare opportunity to enjoy some of the thirteen acres of gardens and grounds and support this worthwhile cause. More details on the website.
![FLYER St Tudy Church Tower Appeal [1]](https://www.cornwallheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FLYER-St-Tudy-Church-Tower-Appeal-final_page_1-scaled.jpg "FLYER St Tudy Church Tower Appeal [1]")
![FLYER St Tudy Church Tower Appeal [2]](https://www.cornwallheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FLYER-St-Tudy-Church-Tower-Appeal-final_page_2-scaled.jpg "FLYER St Tudy Church Tower Appeal [2]")
More Information click: www.sttudy.uk
The St Tudy Church appeal has already received some seed funding from ‘Cornwall Historic Churches Trust’, which provides a lead into sharing the work of this charity. Ertach Kernow articles often help promote groups who work for the benefit of Cornish heritage generally. Some of these groups work towards maintaining tangible buildings, monuments and sites others the multi-faceted aspects of intangible Cornish cultural heritage. Whilst looking at maintenance of Cornish churches it is important to share something of the work of ‘Cornwall Historic Churches Trust’. This organisation helps Cornish community groups finance maintenance of their churches but with so many historic churches throughout Cornwall can often only grant valuable seed funding to start appeals, or for smaller works.
Some of the churches which have benefited from CHCT grants have been mentioned here in past Ertach Kernow articles. This includes the wonderful St Mary’s Aisle as part of Truro Cathedral. The roof of this historic parish church now integrated as part of the cathedral had suffered from water falling from the larger roofs of the main cathedral building. A grant of £10,000 was made to aid the work in maintaining this important building.
The crumbling tower at St Kea Old Church is all that remains of a historic church which fell into ruination. From the ruins the stones were used to build a smaller chapel of ease within the churchyard. This small church obtained a grant from CHCT in 2019 allowing the replacement and repairs to stonework in pillars supporting valley roof. Volunteers at this somewhat hidden away church have since been working on a project to developing a garden for people to come and enjoy the peace and tranquillity the little church and grounds have to offer. They have been awarded a certificate for completing the Kernow Green Church Award. Seating is available both inside the little church and in the garden and at just three miles from Truro seems a very special place to visit and spend time and is also available to hire for events.
Another different type of church assisted by CHCT is the Quaker Come-to-Good Meeting House. A lovely, thatched property saw the thatch rapidly deteriorating by 2023 and it being added to the Historic England Heritage at Risk register. Following completion of the work, which improved the sustainability of the thatched roof, they wrote; ‘It was particularly helpful that CHCT’s decision to fund us was made very soon after our application, which meant it was one of the first sums of money to come through. This helped enormously in encouraging other funders to back the project and meant we could achieve our target quickly.’ This emphasises the importance of seed funding provided by CHCT. The Come-to-Good Meeting House is an important part of Cornwall’s heritage and a Grade I listed building. Visitors can find this interesting building close to Carnon Downs about four miles from Truro.
Church bells are also an part of Cornwall’s heritage and many churches are rightly proud of their bells and the skills of their bellringers. The CHCT has supported a number of churches where they needed to carryout work in either maintaining their bells, or the frame structures on which they hang, as well as some who have added to their existing bells. St Cleer Church is one of these. The community is working to raise £150,000 to replace their six historic bells with a donation of six from Paisley Church and recast two new ones from their existing 18th and 19th century bells. Having raised in excess of £100,000 they are well on the way to funding this work, which will also include renovation of the frames. This was also supported by a Cornwall Heritage Trust grant.
These few examples provide a very small overview of the types of heritage church buildings being protected and preserved here in Cornwall. They show the range of works that Cornwall Historic Church Trust helps fund and how an often relatively small early contribution provides seed funding encouraging other donations and grants. With greater donations and support for CHCT through their fund raising activities many more Cornish churches, many on the at risk register, could be supported. Churches are often still at the centre of many Cornish communities and need to be preserved for both mutual ecclesiastical and secular use.
Besides donations and bequests there are a range of fund raising activities carried out by the CHCH. One of these the ‘Ride, Stride & Sail for Cornwall churches’ takes place on Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th September. An event like this is an opportunity for collaboration, as mentioned in the ‘Heritage Column’, between groups. Churches throughout Cornwall should contact their local running and sports clubs to seek their participation with the CHCT St Piran’s Challenge project. The newly launched St Piran’s Challenge is aimed at running clubs and involves a running relay across Cornwall and raising money.
This follows the Cornish Saints’ Route from St Sennen’s Church to St Germans Priory, visiting all 19 churches along the way and is approximately 100 miles long. The various teams relay runners run between churches, passing a magnetic tracking baton between checkpoints. The club completing the full route in the shortest time will win the event trophy, named after the CHCT corporate sponsor. But who’s to say it can be limited to running clubs, perhaps a local football or rugby team might wish to engage with this challenge.
Click the image for the CHCT 'Ride, Stride & Sail' to visit their page and to find out more about this fun event to raise funds to preserve Cornish churches.
What a great way of raising money and having an opportunity to support the team’s local church as well as an organisation helping maintain churches throughout Cornwall, part of our greater Cornish heritage. Please email rss@chct.info for more information. For those of us with a more sedate lifestyle and pastimes other opportunities to support CHCT exist. There is a membership scheme with a range of outings, illustrated talks and garden events taking place.
Heritage Column
