St Elidyr's Church

St Elidyr's Church was the principal place of worship of the Cawdor family, former owners of the Stackpole Estate. The church has medieval origins, but most of the original structure, apart from the 12th or 13th century tower and part of the chancel, has been absorbed into later additions and renovations.

The church is built on a slope in a wooded valley, the slope partly excavated to accommodate the building. Cruciform in plan, the chancel is about 6.5 metres long by 4.5 metres wide. There are north and south transepts, a vestry and a chapel. There is an open porch to the south, within which there is an early medieval inscribed stone. There was a crypt beneath the chancel, now filled in. The roof is slate, and there is a wrought iron cross at its eastern end. The altar table is oak, as are the communion rails.

The tower is a prominent feature and an older part of the church. It is of a typical local design with a parapet, but unusually slender. The lowest storey has a vault opening into the north transept. Two upper floors and the roof are crudely constructed. Each storey has windows or louvred openings, the lowest being blocked. The top storey has louvred openings on all four sides and there is a spiral staircase.

A stone cross with a modern head stands in the churchyard.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Unnamed Road, Stackpole, United Kingdom

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Religious sites in United Kingdom