St Anthony's Church, Roseland, Cornwall

Address:
St Anthony-in-Roseland, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 5EZ
How to find us | Access information
Opening times:
Open daily during daylight hours
  • Photo: The CCT
  • Photo: The CCT
  • Photo: The CCT
  • Photo: The CCT
  • Photo: The CCT
  • Overview
  • Map
  • What's nearby

Our first church in Cornwall!

Behind the turreted ancestral home of the Spry family, and looks across the creek to St Mawes. Look out for what appears to be carved woodwork at the top of the walls. In fact it is an ingenious use of Cornish tin, painted to resemble wood.

In summer, the churchyard is full of flowers, growing wildly over pretty headstones. St Anthony-in-Roseland is unusual in that it still has its original Medieval cruciform plan, despite being extensively restored in the nineteenth century. Pevsner thought it 'the best example in the county of what a parish church was like in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries'. This peaceful church is currently part of the Celtic Quiet Places scheme.

During the twelfth century, much of the land at St Anthony was owned by the Augustinian Priory at Plympton, Devon; it was during this time that the Prior established the church here. It is thought that the fine Norman doorway was brought here from Plympton Priory, probably by sea.

By the nineteenth century the chancel was in ruins, and Samuel Spry, MP for Bodmin, employed his cousin, the Revd Clement Carlyon, an amateur architect, to oversee the restoration of the church. Carlyon rebuilt the chancel, and installed the wooden roofs, floor tiles and stained glass. He also designed many of the furnishings, including the chunky pulpit and pews, some of which he may have carved himself. In the north transept you can see impressive monuments to members of the Spry family, spanning three centuries. The most noteworthy is to Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Spry who died in 1775.

For more information about this church please contact the Local Community Officer Marie Leverett  [email protected]

St Anthony in Roseland costs us £4152 a year to maintain. Make a donation to this beautiful church here or text 'ROA' to 70191 to donate £10. Thank you.

  • Access information

    By foot - Take the 200 metre gravel track from Place Ferry lane to the harbour – or on the coastal path down steps. Stone stile at lane has an adjacent 5 bar gate which can be opened. Disabled access via gravel path. Once on gravel path wheel chair users would require assistance down 2 steps at south porch.

    By car - Follow the road from Bohortha towards the Place ferry. Before reaching the jetty there is a turning on the left with parking for two cars. You can then walk along the gravel track to St Anthony's.

  • Facilities & Hire

    St Anthony's church is available to hire for events and is a unique and beautiful venue.

    Due to its historic nature the church has no heating, electricity, running water or toilet facilities so thought needs to be given for events longer than a couple of hours (e.g. portaloo hire).

    St Anthony's is sometimes hired by guests of Place House next door for wedding blessings and events ([email protected]). Find out more about weddings at St Anthony in Roseland:

    Weddings at St Anthony in Roseland Information

     

    St Anthony's can seat 60-100 people. If you would like to hire this church please contact us here.

     

  • Directions
    20 miles south west of St Austell, off A3078; opposite St Mawes and 4 miles south of Gerrans
  • Transport
    Nearest railway station: Falmouth (2.7 miles) then St Mawes ferry (summer only).
  • History & Further Information

    Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church before you visit? You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.

    Cornwall, Devon and Dorset churches

    This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches we care for in Cornwall, Devon & Dorset. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.

    St Anthony's Roseland Guidebook

     

  • Volunteering Opportunities

    We are currently looking for volunteers at St Anthony Roseland to help with research, interpretation and talks, fundraising and events organising. If you are interested in helping please email the Local Community Officer on [email protected]

  • Community information
    St Anthony in Roseland Church Plan

    Click the link above to download a copy of the Church Plan which sets out the shared vision for the future of the church. This is a working document that will be updated on a regular basis. If you have any feedback or if you want to contact us about the church plan please drop us a line. When you write, please do give the name of the church, thank you!

    St Anthony-in-Roseland is in our west region.

    All our Cornwall churches are in our West region.

    Useful local links

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