More information : (SX 14696059) Church (NAT). (1)
Boconnoc parish church, dedication unknow, was possibly originally
a post-Conquest manorial church.
The present building is mainly 15th century considerably restored
1873. (2,3)
3/7 Boconnoc Parish Church
(dedication unknown)
21/8/64 I
GV
Parish and manorial church, dedication unknown. Nave circa C14
with south aisle and short north chancel aisle (family chapel) circa late C15. South porch circa C16. South west turret attributed to George Matthew Fortescue who died in 1877. Restore in 1873. Repaired
1935 by grant from Church Building Society.
Nave and chancel with moulded granite plinth and roughly coursed
stone. Coursed stone on south aisle with moulded coping to parapet.
Rubble stone to north chancel aisle and snecked stone in porch.
Rag slate roofs.
Nave and chancel under one continuous roof. Chancel projects
beyond 2-bay north chancel aisle. 6-bay south aisle projects slightly
beyond nave at west. Tracery considerably restored in 1873. East
window 3-light C19 Perendicular tracery. Three 3-light windows
with C19 round heads on north side of nave. Mullions, hoods and drips
original. Two 3-light and one 2-light Perpendicular C19 windows to
north chancel aisle. South aisle east window with 2-light
Perpendicular window with C19 cusped heads. Hoods and mullions
appear original. Three 3-light C19 Perpendicular windows on
south of south aisle. West door in west end of south aisle with
Tudor arch with roll moulding. C19 2-light window with intersecting
tracery above. Engaged octagonal turret with splayed arched openings, 1 an earlier
reset window. Octagonal bell turret above with splayed elliptical
arched openings and battlemented parapet above a string course.
Gabled porch with pointed arched opening. Sundial inscribed
RC DT TG 1716 set at an angle above.
Interior: 6-bay arcade with type A (Pevsner) granite piers with
octagonal capitals and moulded bases. Identical 2-bay arcade to
north chancel aisle. Original waggon roof to nave ceiled with carved arcade plate and bosses. Waggon roof to north chancel aisle
restored and partly replaced. Some original bosses with carved
arcade plate remaining. Waggon roof to south porch restored.
Soissor brace roof, C19, to south aisle.
Musicians gallery at west end of south aisle.
Furnishings: seating - largely replaced, some in late C19, but
earlier benches with fielded panels on south of south aisle. Possibly
C18 decorated bench ends with carved naturalistic foliage have been
incorporated into the east side of the front benches of the nave and into benches at the east end of the south aisle.
Rood screen, circa early C16, possibly taken from Bradoc Church
(q.v) has been used as a parclose screen to the north chancel aisle.
Comprises 2 sets of 3 panels divided by arcade pier with
Perpendicular tracery on partly restored base with and blind
quatrefoils and blind arches.
Font, circa C15. Stone, on recarved octagonal base. Square with
cushioned bowl decorated with cusped decorative patterns in circles. On tall cylindrical shaft with four engaged octagonal capitals
to round shafts, one at each corner. Octagonal oak pulpit, 1629,
decorated with cherubs holding musical instruments at each corner.
Panels of carved naturalistic foliage, slightly cruder than those
of reused bench ends. Original timber base.
Reredos, erected 1888 reusing carved wood from Boconnoc House. Carved oak altar table with inscription 'Made by me Sir. Raynold
Mohun, 1621.' Oak seat to left of altar table '1659 I H'. 14 Chippendale chairs in north chancel aisle. Large plaster royal
arms of Charles II, probably by Michael Chuke of Kilkhampton
(q.v. Kilkhampton, Launcells and Markam Churches).
Monuments: to Penelope Mohun, 1637 on north wall of east end of
south aisle. Kneeling figures of woman looking towards altar.
In aedicular surround with cherubs in spandrels and wreath of foliage
behind figure. Painted, slate and alabaster.
At high level above arcade on south of nave are 2 fine carved
reliefs.1 on west of woman kneeling, facing altar. In rectangular
surround. That on east with figures of time (with hour glass) and
death (skeleton) standing by sleeping figure.
Several decorative C17 slate gravestones have been reset into
floor of nave and south aisle.
Sources: N Pevsner and E Radcliffe, The Buildings of England;
Cornwall 2nd ed. 1970. Kelly's Directory 1889. C Henderson,
The Cornish Church Guide 1925 rp 1964. Boconnoc Estate and Church
guide F.A.Paley Illustrations of Baptismal Fonts, 1844. (4)
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