CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL

CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, CHURCH STREET

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1207743
Date first listed:: 24-Mar-1950
List Entry Name:: CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL
Statutory Address:: CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, CHURCH STREET

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Reference:: IOE01/04947/27
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1207743
Date first listed:: 24-Mar-1950
List Entry Name:: CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL
Statutory Address 1:: CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, CHURCH STREET

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, CHURCH STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Helston
National Grid Reference:: SW 65801 27734

Details

HELSTON

SW6427 CHURCH STREET 631-1/4/39 (West side) 24/03/50 Church of St Michael

GV II*

Parish church on site of C12 church destroyed by fire in 1729. 1756-61. By Thomas Edwards. Restored 1837-38 by George Wightwick of Greenwich, for Francis, Earl of Godolphin. Elvan ashlar with granite dressings including plinth, quoins, window dressings, parapets and copings; granite ashlar tower; dry Delabole slate roofs. Rectangular aisleless plan plus chancel; organ extension in NE angle; west tower; central south porch and small central north chapel. 3-stage tower; 2-storey elevations to church. The design is characteristic of mid-Georgian classical church architecture, the Gothic-style tower also with classical-style features. North and south elevations are 2:1:1 bays with round-arched windows over windows with flat arches, all with leaded glass. South porch has rusticated buttresses and quadrant front corners; round-arched windows with wooden glazing bars and fanlight heads; pair of C19 bolection-moulded panelled doors. North chapel has recessed quadrant rear corners and round-arched N window. Round head of church window above. 2 blocked windows at west end. Tower has Y-traceried 2-light windows to upper stage over lunettes to 2nd stage, the south lunette fitted with clockface inscribed "John Hawkins Esq. Mayor 1793"; rustications to round-arched west doorway with early C20 doors and small north doorway at higher level approached by flight of granite steps from north and with ramped wrought-iron handrail. Chancel has elliptically-arched E window. INTERIOR: plastered walls; high ceiling with deep cove over moulded cornices interrupted by arcade of round arches, the flat surface divided by moulded bands into panels, the central panel an oval with richly carved arabesques; chancel has barrel ceiling with moulded band and arabesque; porch has moulded cornice; gallery at west end with lozenge-panelled front over panelled pilasters and doorway into tower with panelled doors with concentric panels to round arch. Fittings: original leaded window depicting the Resurrection in panel over south door; oak-grained box pews to gallery, otherwise late C19 pitch-pine pews with shaped ends; octagonal freestone and marble arcaded font on stepped base inset with patterned tiles; brass communion rail; tripartite mosaic reredos with central panel depicting The Last Supper; organ and oak choir stalk with Gothic tracery. Monuments include: in chapel, brasses mounted on wood in frame to Thomas Bovgins of Helston, merchant, d.1602; S wall of chancel, wall marble to Humphry Millet Grylls of Bosahan, d.1834 aged 45; marble cartouche with cherubs to Cock, d.1764 and marble panel flanked by tall consoles to George Simon Borlase Esq. FRS, Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Cornwall, 1792-1837; S wall, marble urn on casket to John Rogers Esq. of Antron Lodge in the Parish of Sithney, d.1821 aged 65; marble plaque by James of Helston to Henry Penberthy, d.1783 aged 64 and who left bequest to help the poor of the Parish of Helston; 2 others to the Borlase family: John, d.1845 aged 80 and Henry, d.1846 aged 82; marble casket to Peter Hill of Carwythenack in the Parish of Constantine, Commander RN, d.1818 aged 65 and cartouche to Robert Hooker, d.1775 aged 57. (Colvin H: A Bibliographical Dictionary of British Architecture 1600-1840: London: 1978-: 285, 890).

Listing NGR: SW6580127734

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 385389
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Colvin, H M, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, (1978), 285 890

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.