| Church History |
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Fowey Parish Church is dedicated to St. Finn Barr, who was the first Bishop of Cork
(A.D. 613 - 630). On a pilgrimage to Rome, possibly for his consecration, he crossed
the sea following the old trade and pilgrim route to Padstow (on the north coast of
Cornwall), overland to Fowey, and from here to Brittany and Rome. During his stay in
Fowey, he built a little church in a sheltered place between the hills. Visitors from
Cork may know that the Church of Ireland Cathedral there is dedicated to St. Fin Barre,
its first Bishop. (As you can see there are variations in the spelling of the Bishop's
name). St. Fimbarrus is a Latinised form of the name.
St. Finn Barr's Church replaced an earlier one, that of St. Goran (or Guron), who
probably left his cell at Bodmin when St. Petroc arrived, established a church at Fowey
and finally settled at Goran. (Celtic Christianity was an influence in Cornwall long
before Roman missionaries arrived in Britain in A.D. 597).
About A.D. 1150, a Norman Church was built here but unfortunately only the font has
survived. At this stage the Church at Fowey was served by Benedictine monks from
Tywardreath Priory (a few miles away) but a resident vicar was appointed in 1260.
Possibly the Church was destroyed by pirates and the Church had to be rebuilt in 1328,
and it was dedicated in 1336 by the Bishop of Exeter to St. Nicholas of Bari, patron
saint of sailors, but the new name failed to replace that of St. Finn Barr.
In a reprisal for raids on the French coast by Fowey seamen, the town was attached by
the French in 1456, set on fire and the Church was partially destroyed; they were repulsed
at "Place", the neighbouring Great House, by Elizabeth Treffry (a member of the family
which still lives there) who is reputed to have had molten lead poured over the attackers.
The work of restoration began about 1460 with the help of the Earl of Warwick, Lord High
Admiral of England, and lasted until the next century; the tower, the wagon roof, a rood
screen and loft date from this period. Warwick's badge (the ragged staff) can be seen on
the second string course of the Church Tower. About 1500, the Treffry brothers undertook
to widen the narrow south aisle and extend it to make a family chapel and the clerestory
windows, unusual for Cornwall, were constructed.
In 1876, an important restoration took place removing the Western gallery, providing a new
roof for the North aisle, a clergy vestry, choir stalls as well as pews for the congregation;
a choir vestry was added in 1894.
| The Font |
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The only definite survival from the Norman Church, it is made of hard elvan from a quarry
near Padstow. An uncarved portion is thought to be unfinished because the carver died.
| The Tower |
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Built in 1460, it is claimed to be the second highest in Cornwall; Probus Church has the
highest tower.
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| The Roof |
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The 500-year-old wagon roof of the nave and chancel was restored in the early 20th century
when death watch beetle was discovered.
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| The Pulpit |
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Made in 1601 from the panelling of the captain's cabin of a Spanish Galleon, it formed part
of a double-decker pulpit which stood against the first pillar of the nave on the south side.
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