View of St Martin's Church tower
A Guide to
Saint Martin’s Church,
Lewannick
published by kind permission of by Revd. Brian Stamford
ORIGINS.
The parish name of Lewannick has been recorded in many forms over the years.
Just some of the variations have been Lawaneck, Lewanecke, Lanwennock,
Lawaneke and Lewanak. Many theories have evolved as to the origins of the
name, some of which are worthy of detailing here.
The historian Tonkin claimed the correct name to be Lanwenoc, sharing
similar origins with Landewednac. Another possible source is Llanwinnoc. "elan" meaning
a space enclosed for religious purposes, and "winnoc" meaning
either marshy or monks. This is an interesting theory with regards to
the actual site of the Church as it is indeed enclosed in an oval area.
It
does not appear to be on or near marshy ground therefore could it have
been the site of an early monks' enclosure? The Church is undoubtedly
on a very ancient site. The historic stones found in the area bear witness
to this. It may well be that a wooden Saxon Church stood on the site
of
the present building. It is recorded that whilst digging the foundations
of the south columns in l 890, the base stones of a 12th century erection
were discovered.
Lewannick may be the Lawanhoc mentioned in the Doomsday Book. If this is
so, at the time came under the care of Bodmin Monastery. It is known that
the local Estate of Trelask(e) was given to Richard, half brother of William
of Normandy, in 1066, and that the Church was given to Launceston Priory
by Richard, Lord of Trelaske, in 1230.
The Church was on the route of travel from Launceston Priory to the South
Coast from where pilgrims would sail for France. A possible link with the
Church of St. Winnow on the Fowey has been suggested.
Lake's Parochial History of Cornwall (1870) states that Lewannick Parish
was known for "the purity of its water and the longevity of its inhabitants." Indeed
a spring near Trelaske known as Joan's Pitcher was said to be good for
the cure of sore eyes!
THE FIRE AND RE-BUILDING.
During the early hours of 12th January 1890, a fire started from the stove and
spread throughout much of the Church. The local paper states that the sexton
lit the stove ready for the Sunday services, on the Saturday afternoon (llth)
and checked it again during the evening. However at 1 a.m. a Mrs. White saw the
light of the fire inside the Church and alerted Mr. Isaac Dawe and his two sons.
Soon the village was roused, but there was little that could be done;
" the burning rafters fell on the dry seats consequently the flames spread
with remarkable rapidity and it was soon evident that the structure was doomed
to
destruction."
(Cornish & Devon Post, January 18th 1890).
All that survived were the external walls, portions of the columns, the font,
the cresset stone, the roofs of the two porches, the vestry and two marble memorials.
All the remaining timber work, the internal fittings (including many fine memorials),
and the bells were destroyed. The loss of the 16th century benches which were
of oak with ornately carved ends, was a particular tragedy.
An appeal was immediately launched, which was so generously subscribed to, that
by the end of March a contract for the restoration was signed. The architect,
Mr. Otho. B. Peter of Launceston, was instructed to re-design the interior to
be as near to the original as funds would allow.
Local Polyphant stone was used for the columns of the South Aisle whilst the
floor between the aisles and in the Chancel was paved with tiles.
The new pews were of pitch pine. However the end of one (at the rear of the South
Aisle) is of oak and was carved as a replica of
one dated 1546, which was destroyed by the fire. Six new bells were cast, using
some of the metal from the old ones, and inscribed as follows:
1. "I call all ye to follow me."
2. "God preserve the Church." A. Reed, J. Foot, Churchwardens.
1 890;
3. "Rev. Charles Harwood Archer, Vicar, 1890.
4."Peal destroyed by fire January 12th 1890. Recast and re-hung October
1890."
5. "Restoration Committee- C. Archer, C.G. Archer,
R. Luskey, A. Reed, J. Foot, J.P. Garland, J. Prout; 1890."
6 "I call the quick to church and the dead to grave,
1890. Charles Gordon Archer."
Remarkably within ten months, the rebuilding work was complete and preparations
were made for the day of opening which was to be 11th November (St. Martin's
Day).
There was a service during the morning, attended by local personages of note,
for which the new bells were rung in "a merry peal." This was followed
by a public luncheon, held in the Board Schoolroom, which was so well attended
that many had to wait for a second sitting! Speeches were made by the Archdeacon
and the Vicar, and many toasts were proposed. At the conclusion of the luncheon
another service was held in the Church which was crowded to overflowing.
A public tea followed and in the evening a supper was given to the workmen
and
ringers.
It was truly a day of celebration which would be long remembered by the parishioners
of Lewannick.
ST. MARTIN OF TOURS.
St. Martin was a Roman soldier whose shrine it to be found at Tours in Central
France. He died in 397 AD St. Martin was a very popular Saint in mediaeval times.
RECTORS AND BENEFACTORS.
A list of known rectors dating from 1261 is on display in the Church. However
a few of them are worthy of mention here.
It is recorded that an un-named 14th century priest was committed to Launceston
Gaol for felony. This may have been Thomas Bray (incumbent 1381-1398) who it
is known was ex-communicated.
The rector from 1702 - 1730 was Ely Foster whose descendants were known to be
living in the parish until the late 19th century. There are many Fosters buried
in the Churchyard.
George Mangles who was rector from 1797 until 1811 was a staunch opponent
of Methodism and went to extraordinary lengths to prevent the Methodists
from
meeting. In 1805 they conducted Prayer Meetings in the house of a shoe-maker
named Evans.
Unfortunately he was compelled to stop hosting such meetings as Rev.
Mangles threatened to withdraw his custom. The Methodists then rented
a room in
the house of a widow named Peter, for £4 per annum, but the clergyman again thwarted
their plans be offering the owner £14 per annum, thus ensuring
that both the Methodists and the widow were turned out. In 1807 the offer
of
a farmer,
Reginald Jenkins, to let out a room to the worshippers was again blocked
by the rector, in the following year John Dawe of Trevadlock allowed
the use of
his
house. As Mr. Dawe was a yeoman, Rev. Mangles could do very little about
it.
Two 19th century priests came from the Archer family who were the local squires
at Trelaske. Charles H. Archer was married to Jane Rashleigh of Menabilly (recently
home of Dame Daphne Du Maurier). A marble memorial to her is sited on the North
Wall of the Church. The Archer family maintained dose links with the Church until
the last squire died in 1958. A brass plaque in the East Wall, behind where the
family used to sit, states that the Archer memorials on the South and West Walls
were destroyed in the fire of 1890. Only the memorial to Jane, previously mentioned,
survived the fire. It is worth noting that the village Inn is called the Archer
Arms!
THE OGHAM STONES.
Little is known about the origins of the Ogham stones at Lewannick, but it is
thought that such stones commemorated Christian interment and may date from about
500A.D.
Ogham writing consists basically of four sets of strokes or notches with five
notches in each specific set. These are incised in the middle of, or on either
side of, the edge of an upright stone. This form of writing is of Irish origin.
The two Lewannick stones also have Latin letters inscribed on them, possibly
a form of translation from the Ogham writing.
The first stone in the South of the Churchyard (near the road) was discovered
on 7th June 1892 by Mr. A.G. Langdon. Although it is made of granite, it is quite
worn and the inscriptions are difficult to decipher. However there are Latin
characters on the angle and the following Latin inscription:
I N CEN
V I
M E M
0 R I A
The stone inside the Church was found by Mr. F.G. Nicholls on 17th July 1894.
It had been undiscovered until then as it was in two separate pieces built into
the walls of the North Porch. It is made of grey Elvan stone and is much better
preserved than the first stone. Mr. Nicholls had the two pieces removed from
the wall and erected together in the Church at this own expense.
THE CRESSET STONE.
The crcsset stone situated in the Church is of polished granite, but of finer
quality than the local neighbourhood produces.
The top stone is circular, lft. 6ins. in diameter, and 7ins. deep. The seven
holes or cups in the top are 2 1/2ins. wide by 3ins. deep. It stands on an octagonal
base stone.
The precise purpose of such a stone is not fully understood but it
is thought to have been used to provide light. The word cresset probably
derives from
the French word `'craisset" meaning oil lamp.
There are possibly only eight other such stones known in this country.
The number of cups varies from just one at Dearham Church, Cumberland,
to sixteen
cups at
Calder Abbey. It was stated in1890 that "of all the existing
cresses stones, none is so perfect and well preserved at is the one
that survived
the great
fire at St. Martin's Church.''
A description of how such a stone may have been used occurred in "The
rites of Durham."
" At each end of the dorter was a square stone, wherein was a dozen of cressets
wrought in each stone, being fill'd and supply'd by the cooks, as
they needed, to afford light to the monks and novices on their arising to their
matins at midnight, and for their other necessary uses."
1980 ONWARDS.
Of course the work of restoration didn't finish on that day in November 1890,
but is a continuous process.
The window behind the Alter was erected in 1903 to the memory of Henry Edwin
Sargent and his family. The clock was placed in the tower in 1919 by parishioners
in memory of those who fell in the First World War. The small window on the south
side of the Alter is also in memory of a soldier who was killed in that war.
In 1948 the present organ was erected in the Church, being moved there from Tregeare
House.
In 1993 a glazed window screen was erected at the rear of the Church, adjacent
to the Tower. During 1996 an inner porch was installed at the South Door. Both
reduce draughts hence the cost of heating. To the present day routine maintenance
and improvements are a vital necessity which cannot be denied.
SOURCES
Lake's Parochial History of Cornwall. (1870)
Venning's Directory 1901.
A Cornish Church Guide, 1925. Charles Henderson.
The Victorian History of the County of Cornwall. (Vol. 1)
Journal of the Royal Institute of Cornwall. (Vol.X1)
Launceston Weekly News.
Cornish & Devon Post.
One of the Ogham script inscribed stones associated with St Martin's Church, this one stands in the churchyard. Horizontal grooves can just be seen in the lower third of the stone
25 letters of Ogham script
.