St Gwinear's Church, Gwinear is a

Grade I listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

church in the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

Gwinear, Cornwall Gwinear ( kw, Gwynnyer) is a small village in west Cornwall, England, UK. It is about two miles (3 km) east of Hayle and overlooks the Angarrack valley. It is in the civil parish of Gwinear-Gwithian. Gwinear village sits on a hill with exp ...

History

Gwinear church is dedicated to St Winierus (in Irish Fingar), according to legend the leader of the Irish missionaries who came to this district in the 6th-century. At Roseworthy there was once a holy well and chapel of the saint, which was also the site of the most splendid Celtic cross of Cornwall (now at Lanherne). The advowson of Gwinear belonged to the manor of Drannack and was sold in 1311 by the Bevilles to Sir Richard de Stapeldon (d.1326) in trust for his brother's foundation at Oxford, later Exeter College. The parish church of St Gwinear is of the 13th and 14th centuries (tower mid 15th century, built of granite in three stages). There are three aisles: the south aisle which is shorter than the nave, an inner north aisle, and further north the Arundell Aisle.

Malachy Hitchins Malachy Hitchins (1741–1809) was an English astronomer and cleric. Life The son of Thomas Hitchins, he was born at Little Trevince, Gwennap, Cornwall, and was baptised on 18 May 1741; Thomas Martyn, compiler of a map of Cornwall, was an uncle, ...

, astronomer, became Vicar of St Hilary in 1775; in 1785, he also became Vicar of Gwinear and retained both these livings till his death, which took place on 28 March 1809 at St Hilary. The chancel was restored by

John Dando Sedding John Dando Sedding (13 April 1838 – 7 April 1891) was an English church architect, working on new buildings and repair work, with an interest in a "crafted Gothic" style. He was an influential figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, many of wh ...

in 1870. The roof was repaired in oak and raised to its old pitch. New stone coping and a cross were added to the gable. The five-light window was rebuilt copying from the original. New oak chancel seating was provided. The church was restored between 1878 and 1879. The aisle and roofs were restored with the four roofs costing £689. A new three-light window was placed at the west end of the south aisle. The chancel screen was repaired and re-erected in its original position, enclosing the western bay of the chancel. New seating of pitch pine was provided. The floors were laid with concrete and the aisles laid with slates of Delabole stone. The church was lit with Hesperus lamps provided by Jones and Wallis of Birmingham. The Rural Dean, Revd F Hockin of Phillack provided a low screen to separate the Arundel chapel. It was reopened on 25 November 1879 and the new bells were rung for the first time on 23 January 1880.

Parish status

The church is in a joint parish with, *

St Elwyn's Church, Hayle St Elwyn’s Church is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Truro in Hayle, Cornwall, England, UK. History The foundation stone was laid by Miss Susan Hockin, sister of the rector of Phillack, on 5 August 1886. I ...

St Erth's Church, St Erth St Erth’s Church, St Erth, is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Truro in St Erth, Cornwall, England, UK. History The parish church is dedicated to St Erc (Latin ''Ercus'') and is probably of the 14th century. ...

St Felicitas and St Piala's Church, Phillack St Felicitas and St Piala’s Church, Phillack is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Truro in Phillack, Cornwall, England, UK. History The church dates from the 12th century. The tower is 15th century. It was ...

St Gothian's Church, Gwithian St Gothian's Church, Gwithian is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Truro in Gwithian, Cornwall, England, UK. Nothing is known about St Gothian, Gocianus or Gwithian. History The church dates from the 13th ce ...

Organ

The church contained an organ by

Hele & Co Hele & Co (also known as Hele & Sons) were the main organ builders in the south west of England from 1865 to 2007.''The Freeman-Edmonds Directory of British Organ Builders''; by Andrew Freeman & Bernard Edmonds. 2002 History The company was fo ...

. The opening recital was given by

Hubert Stanley Middleton Hubert Stanley Middleton (11 May 1890 – 13 August 1959) was a Organist#Classical and church organists, cathedral organist who served at Truro Cathedral and Ely Cathedral before taking up a long-standing organist and teaching appointment at Trini ...

, organist of Truro Cathedral, on 14 January 1925. This was replaced by an organ from Tregajorran Wesleyan Chapel dating from 1922 by Griffen and Stroud. It was installed in St Gwinear's Church in 1993 by Lance Foy. A specification of the organ can be found on the

National Pipe Organ Register The British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) is a British organisation and registered charity which aims to promote study and appreciation of all aspects of the pipe organ. Further, it acts as a lobbying body to raise awareness of organ issue ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gwinear, St Gwinear's Church 13th-century church buildings in England Church of England church buildings in Cornwall Grade I listed churches in Cornwall