St Paul
The church of St Paul was built as a chapel of ease to St Clements in 1868 by John Dando Sedding (Beacham & Pevsner, 2014). Edmund H. Sedding was responsible for the completion of the tower in 1909-10. By 1952 structural cracking in the tower was noted. More recently it was discovered that the east gable is moving and the polyphant stone is crumbling; dry rot has been found in the organ chamber. The church was closed in 2007 and, initially, it was planned to demolish the building but objections from Cornish Buildings Group and others led to it being offered for sale. The Cornish Buildings Group strongly objects to the demolition of this ‘highly accomplished’, richly ornamented grade 2 listed church by John Dando Sedding. They believe that a new use should be sought for such a significant heritage asset within a conservation area (Cornish Buildings Group). However, when no buyer came forward, demolition was again decided by the Diocese. The screens below still exist.
Parclose Screens – Photograph (PWDRO 244/4 & 244/5); 1913 & 1914
There are four parclose screens at St Paul’s, two facing each other behind the choir stalls and two more either side of the Sanctuary, all executed by Rashleigh, Pinwill & Co. The first was installed in 1913, while the others were installed in 1914 (Warner, 2022). They are dedicated to the memory of Mary Anne Wilson (died 1912), Thomas Barrett (died 1914), T. R. Polwhele (died 1909) and Frances (Fanny) Polwhele (died 1893) (Royal Cornwall Gazette, 1914).
Sources
Beacham, P. & Pevsner, N. (2014) The Buildings of England. Cornwall. Yale University Press, London.
PWDRO 244/4 Photograph Album. Various. Woodcarvings.
PWDRO 244/5 Photograph Album. Various. Woodcarvings.
Royal Cornwall Gazette (1914) Truro. 14 May p. 5.
Warner, M. (2022) A Time to Build: Signposts to the Building, Restoration, Enhancement, and Maintenance of Cornwall’s Anglican Churches and Mission Rooms. Scyfa, Cornwall.