St Breward

St Breward

St Breward lies in an area of Cornwall that is mostly bereft of Pinwill woodcarvings and so the work below is a welcome respite, despite lack of documentary evidence for two of the items.

Pulpit – no documentary evidence; 1902

The pulpit at St Breward bears a striking resemblance to several other pulpits made by V. Pinwill for Cornish churches at Crantock, Gorran, Lanteglos by Fowey, Lewannick, Linkinhorne, St Buryan and St Erme. The guide (St Breward, undated) states that the pulpit was erected in 1902.

Litany Desk – Photograph (PWDRO 244/5); date unknown

Litany Desk – no documentary evidence; after 1912

This desk is very similar in design to one shown in an unannotated photograph identified as belonging to St Erme. It bears an inscription stating that it was given by parishioners and friends in memory of Revd John Lock (aged 28) and his sister Phoebe (aged 26) who were drowned in New Zealand (NZ) in February 1912. The Revd Lock had gone to NZ with his sister to take up the post of Vicar at Ross and South Westland in December 1911 (natlib.govt.nz1). Their deaths were reported in the local press, which stated that they were trying to cross the Big Wanganui River when they were swept away and the body of Phoebe Lock was never retrieved (natlib.govt.nz2). The death of Revd John Lock was also remembered by his old school at Probus, where a brass plaque was erected in the church.

Sources

PWDRO 244/5 Photograph Album. Various. Woodcarvings.

St Breward (undated) The Parish Church of St.Breward.