St Torney's Church, North Hill
Cornwall
1 of 4
About this Church
One of the tallest towers in Cornwall
This beautiful Grade I listed church sits in the village of North Hill on the edge of Bodmin Moor. The tall tower, richly decorated interior and impressive scale of the church is surprising considering the size of the village, speaking of the wealth and importance of North Hill in the past.
The Church is dedicated to St Torney, a Cornish Saint and it is thought that a church in some form has existed on this site since Norman times. There is a Norman font in the church but the C14th chancel is the earliest part of the building. Most of the building you see today, including the beautiful wagon roof and impressive arcading, dates from the C15th and early C16th century.
St Torney is the parish church associated with the manor and estate of Trebartha and boasts an impressive array of monuments, memorials and stained glass with some diverse, fine, rare and significant examples. Look out for the impressive Trebartha monument featuring large scale monuments of Henry Spoure (who died in 1688 at ten years old) and his family. A second intriguing monument to another Henry Spoure features an incised and painted skull.
If the name North Hill seems familiar, you might recognise it from Daphne Du Maurier’s 1936 literary classic Jamaica Inn. St Torney’s features in the book, and the Jamaica Inn itself is located a short distance from the village!
In April 2022, St Torney’s was placed into the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It reopened on 20 October 2024. Some conservation work will continue to the Spring of 2025.
St Torney is open daily. See our video about works undertaken at St Torney here.
To donate £10 to St Torney's Church text 'NHILL' to 70191. Thank you.
Access information
St Torney’s is situated in the centre of North Hill village next to the Village Hall.
St Torney's will be reopening from 20 October 2024.
Disabled access information
Access to the building is via the south porch. The porch itself provides step free access. Once through the porch, there is low step down to reach the nave. Access within the nave is step free. There is one step to reach the chancel and a further two steps to reach the altar in the sanctuary.
Facilities & Hire
St Torney's Church is available to hire for events and is a unique and beautiful venue.
It is also available for wedding blessings and funeral services. Due to its historic nature the church has no toilet facilities so thought needs to be given for events longer than a couple of hours.
St Torney's does have electricity and can seat up to 200 people with all doors available for use.
- Church Available for Hire
History & Further Information
Cornwall Devon Dorset County Guide
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.
Read more about St Torney's on the North Hill Local History website here.
Directions
Located between the A30 and A388 near the eastern edge of Bodmin Moor, St Torney’s is just off the B3254 in North Hill village.
Transport
The nearest train station is Okehampton, 27 miles to the east. There are buses to Launceston and onwards to North Hill via Liskeard (find out more on Traveline South West).
Community Information
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!
All our Cornwall churches are in our West region.
Useful local links
