St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus

St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus, is a Grade I listed[1] parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Truro in Probus, Cornwall.

St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus
St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus
50°17′30.2″N 4°57′8.65″W
LocationProbus, Cornwall
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipBroad church
History
DedicationSt Probus and St Grace
Specifications
Height126 feet (38 m)
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseTruro
ArchdeaconryCornwall
DeaneryPowder
ParishProbus
St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus is located in Cornwall
St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus
Location of St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus in Cornwall
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameChurch of St Probus
Designated30 May 1967
Reference no.1310352

History

There was a monastery here before the Norman Conquest which continued to exist until the reign of Henry I. King Henry gave the church of Probus to Exeter Cathedral and the clergy of Probus thereafter were a dean and five canons (the deanery was abolished in 1268 and the canonries in 1549). The first vicar was instituted in 1312; the parish had dependent chapelries at Cornelly and Merther. The church was built mainly in the 15th century but the tower was still under construction in 1523. In the church is the brass of John Wulvedon and his wife, 1512.[2][3] This tower is the highest among Cornish parish churches and resembles those of Somerset rather than other Cornish towers.[4] The stone was brought from the quarry by the parishioners in their carts led by John Tregian of Golden; however the rival squire Nicholas Carminow of Trenowth (John's brother-in-law) made great efforts to obstruct the work.[5]

The church was restored in 1850 by George Edmund Street. The restoration was prompted by an outbreak of dry rot. The ceilings had been covered at some time with plaster, and the pillars with whitewash. The church was filled with high pews made of deal. The arch into the tower was blocked up with a gallery, shutting out the principal west window. All of these defects were rectified and it reopened on 28 October 1851.[6]

The tower was restored between 1922 and 1923 by J. Dawson and Sons, Steeplejacks.[7]

In the early years of the 19th century the rare custom of turning to the East for the Doxology at the conclusion of the recitation of each Psalm, particularly by those in choir, was observed in Probus church.

Parish status

The church is in a joint parish with

Organ

The organ dates from 1884 and was built by Hele & Co. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[8]

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of St Probus (Grade I) (1310352)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  2. Dunkin, E. (1882) Monumental Brasses. London: Spottiswoode
  3. Died 1514 according to Beacham, Peter; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2014). Cornwall. (Pevsner Architectural Guides.) New Haven and London: Yale University Press; p. 462 no doubt they died in different years
  4. Beacham (2014), p. 461
  5. The Cornish Church Guide (1925) Truro: Blackford; p. 188
  6. "Re-opening of Probus Church". Royal Cornwall Gazette. Falmouth. 31 October 1851. Retrieved 27 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Probus Church Restoration". Royal Cornwall Gazette. Falmouth. 22 December 1922. Retrieved 27 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "NPOR [N12417]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
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