St Erth
In 1873-74, John Dando Sedding extensively rebuilt the body of this church, re-using much of the original material (Beacham & Pevsner, 2014). Further restoration work by Edmund H. Sedding, assisted by R.F. Wheatly, included refurbishment of the Trewinnard chapel in the eastern end of the South aisle. The work was undertaken as a memorial to the Hawkins family of Trewinnard, the cost being borne by the widow of Christopher Henry Thomas Hawkins. A faculty for the restoration of the chapel was granted in 1911 (CRO P59/2/5) and the result was dedicated by the Bishop of Truro in October 1912.
Chapel Altar, Reredos, Roof and Bench Ends – Newspaper article (West Briton, 1912a) Sedding and Wheatly architects; 1912
There are no photographs of these items in PWDRO but in an obituary for Edmund H. Sedding, it is stated that he designed the chapel altar, reredos, roof, screen (see below) and bench ends and that the carving was carried out by Rashleigh, Pinwill & Co (Western Morning News, 1921). The carving work for the benches includes two bench fronts: the one on the north depicts the Annunciation and the other on the south shows the landing of Bishop Ercus who founded St Erth church. One newspaper reports that ‘the altar work, seats and roof’ were entrusted to Nathaniel Hitch, a stonecarver of London, but as these are all made of wood that is very unlikely (The Cornishman, 1912). It goes on to say, however, that he was responsible for the marble steps around the altar, which may be where the confusion arose.
Chapel Screen – Photographs (PWDRO 244/5); Newspaper article (West Briton, 1912a) Sedding and Wheatly architects; 1912
The screen across the chapel is part of the same suite of furnishings designed by Sedding and included in the 1911 faculty. Two photographs from different angles are to be found in PWDRO 244/5. The screen is very much in the traditional style and, perhaps rather surprisingly, carries the identical carvings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as those in the reredos at Ermington and in the screen at Launceston St Mary Magdalene, both installed in 1911.
Parclose Screens – Newspaper article (West Briton, 1912b) Sedding and Wheatly architects; 1912
There are no photographs of the two screens that enclose the chapel on the north side, but they are mentioned in another newspaper article about the dedication that attributes them to Rashleigh Pinwill, Plymouth.
Litany Desk – Photograph (PWDRO 116/75 & 244/5); probably 1912
Altar Rails – Photograph (PWDRO 244/4 & 244/5); probably 1912
The litany desk and altar rails in the photographs in PWDRO are situated in the Trewinnard chapel and were probably commissioned with the other furnishings listed above.
Dormer Windows – Newspaper article (The Cornishman, 1912) Sedding and Wheatly architects; 1912
At the same time as the refurnishment of the Trewinnard Chapel, it was decided to install dormer windows in the north and south aisles to introduce more light into the church, the mullions of which were carved by ‘Mr. Rashleigh Pinwell, of Plymouth’ (The Cornishman, 1912 p. 4). These feature demi-figures of angels bearing shields.
Lychgate – Newspaper article (Western Morning News, 1926) R.F. Wheatly architect; 1926
In October 1926, it was reported in the Western Morning News that a carved oak lychgate with slate roof and Cornish granite masonry had been given by the Misses Vivian of Meadowside, Hayle, as a memorial to their parents. The carving was the work of Miss Pinwill of Plymouth and Mr Wheatly was the architect. A faculty petition for the lychgate was submitted in May 1926, together with plans drawn up by Wheatly, and granted in July of that year (CRO D/R 4/12). The estimate for the work was £250.
Sources
Beacham, P. & Pevsner, N. (2014) The Buildings of England. Cornwall. Yale University Press, London.
CRO D/R 4/12 Faculty Petition. St Erth. Memorial Lych Gate.
CRO P59/2/5 Papers. St Erth. Restoration of Church 1901-1911.
PWDRO 116/75 Photograph. St Erth. Litany Desk.
PWDRO 244/4 Photograph Album. Various. Woodcarvings.
PWDRO 244/5 Photograph Album. Various. Woodcarvings.
The Cornishman (1912) Dedication Ceremony at St Erth. Mrs Hawkins’ £3,000 Gift. 7 November p. 4
West Briton (1912a) Dedication Ceremony at St. Erth. Mrs. Hawkins’ Memorial to her Late Husband’s Family. 31 October p. 4.
West Briton (1912b) Hawkins Memorial Chapel. Dedication at St. Erth by Bishop of Truro. 7 November p. 3.
Western Morning News (1921) Mr. Edmund Sedding. Plymouth Architect’s Death in London. Work for Churches. 23 February p. 8.
Western Morning News (1926) Gift to St. Erth Church. 29 October p. 5.