Truro: St Paul
Overview
Grid reference: SW 831 450
The large and impressive late Victorian Gothic stone church of St Paul’s stands on the flank of a hill on what was, when it was built, the north-east edge of Truro. The church is built in the Perpendicular style, even in the oldest parts of 1848, and used inventively for the Sedding work. This is a church of two halves, the aisled nave a simple long block under one roof, the side walls pierced with 3-light 2-centred windows with simple Perpendicular tracery. The west end has a 5-light nave window and 4-light window to the south aisle, the north aisle west wall is blind. All roofs have coped gable ends.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
6-bay aisled nave, south porch at west end. 2-bay chancel with organ chamber north of choir; chapel north of sanctuary; tower south of choir; vestry south of sanctuary. Crypt/ basement underneath the east end.
Dimensions:
Nave estimated to be c 15m (50ft) x 4.5m (15ft), chancel 8m long (26ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 645 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Truro is the county town of Cornwall, and the site of the first new cathedral to be built after the Reformation. The church of St Paul was built in 1845 to cater for the growing population of the town, paid for by William Mansell Tweedy, a local banker. The parish was carved out of St Clement’s in 1865. The nave and south aisle of this first church survives, the north aisle was added in 1889; the east end is of 1882 to 1884, designed by J D Sedding, the tower was completed only in 1910 by Sedding’s nephew to his design. The furnishings mostly date to the 1920s and 1930s, the sanctuary was “improved and beautified” in 1932. In 1968 the rood screen was removed and the nave altar platform inserted, involving some reordering. Toilets have been inserted into the north porch. The church is now in the same benefice as St Clement’s.
Exterior Description
The church is built in the Perpendicular style, even in the oldest parts of 1848, and used inventively for the Sedding work; Pevsner considered that the chancel exterior, rendered in an inventive Perpendicular free style, exemplifies “Sedding at his best”, and there is truth in this.
This is a church of two halves, the aisled nave a simple long block under one roof, the side walls pierced with 3-light 2-centred windows with simple Perpendicular tracery. The west end has a 5-light nave window and 4-light window to the south aisle, the north aisle west wall is blind. All roofs have coped gable ends. Apart from the embattled porch to the west bay with round-arched doorway and empty niche over (the blocked north porch doorway is plainer with a pointed doorway with hoodmould), all the detail is reserved for the east half of the building.
Considerable vertical emphasis is provided by the powerful 3-stage embattled tower. This has an octagonal tower stair higher than the tower itself (a nice West Country touch), angle buttresses and corner statues of Sir Richard Grenville, Sir John Elliott and Bishop Trelawney; there are also three niches (with two carved statues surviving of Christ and St George, St Paul has been taken down) to the second stage south wall, over a pointed 6-light traceried window, in turn over a flat-headed basement window of four lights with a transom.
The symmetrical east end has central projecting chancel with offset angle buttresses to embattled corner turrets, flanking a large 7-light traceried window with remarkable tracery (see the cover photograph) over a 7-light basement window. The flanking organ chamber and chapel have moulded parapets, 3-light windows and similar buttresses, the side walls have pairs of 2-light windows over basement windows, all with tracery and hoodmoulds, and mid-floor and sill strings. All in all this is a tour de force.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is less dramatic, though it is an impressive space and immaculately kept. The tall 6-bay aisle arcades have A-type (Pevsner) piers with 4-centred arches to the north arcade, and round arches to the south. Engaged shafts and 4-centred arches between choir and chancel, transepts and tower; round choir and chancel arches; waggon roofs in different designs with widely-spaced bosses to nave and north aisle; moulded ribs with square plaster panels to south aisle. Flat coffered ceilings with moulded beams to the transepts and tower. The chancel roof is gilded and painted with close-spaced bosses, said to have been done by Solomans of Truro.
The walls are whitewashed. At the west end there is a plain holy water stoup and a painted wooden frame for a noticeboard on the wall behind the font. The nave is fully pewed with attractive dark-stained pitch-pine benches with square traceried ends and panelled backs. Some benches have been removed in the east bay of the nave to allow for a nave altar, raised on a granite-flagged platform. The floors are of stone flags, with good multi-coloured flags in the chancel and ihs symbols in the sanctuary, mirroring the roof. The organ pipes are displayed in the arch to the organ chamber at the end of the north aisle, the organ has a highly decorated case which encloses a vestry. There is a chapel dedicated to St Clement north of the choir, sparsely furnished.
A painted rood figure is suspended from the chancel arch, which was donated in 1939. There are very good quality choir stalls with tracery ends and fronts and poppy-heads, installed in 1893 by Robinsons of London (by them also the lost rood screen), and matching open wooden screens with Perpendicular tracery and carved cornices between the chancel and the flanking rooms, donated from this time up to the 1920s by parishioners. The glazed screen in the pointed arch to the vicar’s vestry, previously a chapel, was erected in 1968. There are three steps to the sanctuary, the stained glass in the huge and low east window imparts colour to the east end, almost acting as a reredos.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th Century Oak table, chamfered legs. Modern table, nave altar.
Pulpit
Medieval to 20th Century There is an oak pulpit with blind ogee tracery on the north side of the nave given in 1901 in memory of Lady Protheroe Smith. The pulpit in the south aisle is of limestone, with carved blind Perpendicular tracery panels with shields and tabernacles within ogees and stone steps. Restored in 1934 in memory of Revd W Kerr. Considered to have come from St Clement’s and to be medieval in origin. Only the octagonal stem with its cusped lancets might have original substance.
Lectern
19th Century Brass eagle lectern, given 1880 in memory of Miss Jane Mansell Tweedy of Alverton, a good example with an intricately decorated base. Modern wooden reading stand in use.
Font (component)
20th Century Stone font, octagonal with elongated quatrefoils to the bowl and niches with fleur-de-lys around the stem, stepped base, flat oak cover.
Stained Glass (window)
19th Century A scheme of the late 1880s by Lavers, Baraud & Westlake. 7-light Te Deum east window given in memory of Sir Philip Protheroe Smith, Mayor of Truro, died 1882. It has a figure to each light, Virgin with Christ Child flanked by St Clement, St Paul and the Four Evangelists. South (vicar’s) vestry has Adoration of the Shepherds, and young Christ in the temple and in the workshop with Joseph and Mary. Given in memory of members of his children by the Revd Gardiner. South organ chamber has a window by Alexander Gibbs, Christ blessing, badly damaged by vandals.
Organ (component)
20th Century Large 3-manual organ by Hele & Co of Plymouth, restored in 1958 and again in 1983 by Lance Foy of Truro. A good instrument, with a highly decorated case and pipes. Also a piano and electronic organ.
Altar Rail
20th Century Wrought iron standards, wooden hand rail, good.
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers: Since 1865.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SW 831 450
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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