St Mary Magdalene's Church, Launceston 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 Ire ...

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activitie ...

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 Britai ...

Launceston, Cornwall Launceston ( or , locally or , kw, Lannstevan; rarely spelled Lanson as a local abbreviation) is a town, ancient borough, and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is west of the middle stage of the River Tamar, which c ...

. It is unusual for its carvings; the entire exterior of the original part of the church is built of carved granite blocks. The church is dedicated to Jesus' companion,

Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and resurr ...

History

The origins of the church date from the 12th century, but all except for the tower has been replaced. The church was under the management of

Launceston Priory Launceston Priory was a priory at Newport, Launceston, Cornwall, England, UK. The priory was founded 1127 by William Warelwast, Bishop of Exeter as a house of Augustinian canons. Its charter replaced an earlier foundation of secular canons at ...

. The current building, except for the tower, dates from 1511 to 1524 and was built by Sir Henry Trecarrel of

Trecarrel Lezant ( kw, Lannsant) is a civil parish and village in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Lezant village is about five miles (8 kilometres) south of Launceston. The population of the parish in the 2001 census was 751, increasing slightly ...

as a memorial to his infant son. After the dissolution of

in 1539 the management transferred to the Corporation who took on the responsibility of appointing curates and repairs to the building. Around 1550, the lead work needed repair, and the Corporation employed a plumber to recast and relay it. In 1640 the Mayor paid for new glass for the church windows. In 1718 a west end gallery was built to increase the accommodation available at services. Iron railings were purchased in 1809 from the Tavistock Foundry, at a cost of £222 8s. 3d. (). Following an appeal for scrap metal, the iron railings were removed at the start of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

In 1852 the pillars of the church were straightened and the roof was replaced. The plans for the work were prepared by D. Barton Esq, and the contact undertaken by Messrs Gill and Ede, builders of Launceston. The organ was dismantled and cleaned by two local townsmen, Messrs Geake and Lane. The church re-opened for worship on 28 December 1852 in the presence of the Mayor, Justices and other members of the corporation. Launceston St Mary Magdalene Pulpit and Gothic Rood Screen by Pinwill sisters

Launceston St Mary Magdalene Pulpit and Gothic Rood Screen by Pinwill sisters

It was restored in 1894 at a cost of £3,000 () under the plans of

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 ...

, but he died before the work could be carried out, and it was managed by

Edmund Harold Sedding Edmund Harold Sedding (1863 – 21 February 1921), often referred to as E. H. Sedding, was an English architect who practised in Devon and Cornwall. Life Sedding was born in 1863 in Pimlico, London, the son of Edmund Sedding and the nephew of J ...

and

Henry Wilson Henry Wilson (born Jeremiah Jones Colbath; February 16, 1812 – November 22, 1875) was an American politician who was the 18th vice president of the United States from 1873 until his death in 1875 and a senator from Massachusetts from 1855 to ...

. A side chapel was added to the south aisle of the church. New seating was provided in the north and south aisles, and oak benches provided for the centre aisles. New choirs stalls were also provided, wood carving was done by Charles Trask and Sons, Stoke-under-Ham, Illminster. Stonework was done by William Burt of Newport, Launceston. The organ was moved to its present location in 1904. The gallery was taken down in 1910. A new chancel screen high and wide by Rashleigh Pinwill of Plymouth was dedicated in 1911 to mark the 400th anniversary of the church. It cost £600.

Vicars

Organ

The church has had organs since before the

English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians ("Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of Kingdom of England, England's governanc ...

. An organ was installed in 1723, probably by

Thomas Swarbrick Thomas Swarbrick (c. 1675 – c. 1753) (sometime Schwarbrook) was an organ builder active in England in the eighteenth century. History He learned his trade as an apprentice to the famous builder Renatus Harris. He appears to be working o ...

. The donor was either Sir William Morice, 3rd Baronet (1707–1750) or his successor Humphry Morice MP (1723–1785). This has had numerous modifications over the years. 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 issu ...

Organists

*Robert Martin ca.1760 - 1800 *Philip Martin 1800 - 1830 *Thomas Peter Hamlin 1830 - 1871 *Thomas Dalby 1871 - 1898 (Formerly organist at

St Wystan's Church, Repton St Wystan's Church is a Church of England parish church in Repton, Derbyshire that is famous for its Anglo-Saxon crypt which is the burial place of two Mercian kings. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designa ...

and New Romney, Kent) *William Clotworthy ???? - 1907 (afterwards organist of

St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in Tavistock, Devon. History The church was established on this site as early as 1193 but certainly by 1265. Abbot Robert Champeau ...

) *David John Coldwell FRCO 1907 - 1943 *Royland Jordan 1945 -

Bells

The tower contains a peal of 8 bells cast by John Taylor & Company of Loughborough in 1938.

History

Vicars

Organ

Organists

Bells

References

Further reading