Church of St Nonna, Altarnun

St Nonna's Church, Altarnun
St Nonna's Church, Altarnun Location in Cornwall
50°36′17″N 4°30′46″W / 50.604608°N 4.512809°W / 50.604608; -4.512809
Denomination	Church of England
Website	St Nonna, Altarnon
History
Dedication	Saint Nonna
Administration
Parish	Altarnun
Deanery	Trigg Major
Archdeaconry	Bodmin
Diocese	Truro
Province	Canterbury
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Revd Andrew Balfour

The Church of St Nonna also known as the Cathedral of the Moor is the largest church on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, located in the village of Altarnun (meaning: "altar of Nonn")^[1]. The dedication is to Saint Non or Nonna, who was the mother of St David.^[2] The church is mentioned in Daphne du Maurier's Jamaica Inn; it is the church in which the evil vicar of Altarnun depicts himself in a painting as a wolf while the members of his congregation have the heads of sheep.

The church is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Trigg Major, the archdeaconry of Bodmin, and the diocese of Truro. Its benefice is united with those of Saint Sidwell and Saint Gulval, Laneast, and Saint Clederus, St Clether.^[3] The church has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.^[4]

History

The oldest fabric dates back to the Norman era. Most of the church dates from the later part of the 15th century, at which time the north and south aisles were added. The church was restored in 1867 by E. Sedding.^[4]

Architecture

It is a building largely of the 15th century in the Perpendicular style, with a tower 109 ft (33 m) high. It is notable for the fine Norman font and the amount of old woodwork, including the screen, bench-ends and communion rails which date to 1684. The screen is one of the finest 15th century examples in Cornwall; it has three gates and the cornice of vines and tracery and vaulting are finely carved.^[5] The 79 bench-end carvings were executed by Robert Daye between 1510 and 1530 (Pevsner attributes them to 1524 or later) and portray a range of subjects including a Cornish piper and fiddler (Daye's name is given on one but the date is illegible). Also, one of the damaged pew ends was repaired to its former glory by the late local master joiner Douglas Edwards in the 1980s.^[6] Langdon (1896) records seven stone crosses in the parish, of which one is in the churchyard.

External features

Associated with the church are five structures that are listed at Grade II. These are the northeast entrance to the churchyard,^[7] the northwest entrance,^[8] the gate, gatepiers, nearby wall and a mounting block at the southeast entrance,^[9] and two items in the church yard; the Isbell tomb,^[10] and a tombchest and headstone.^[11]

References

1. ^ Orme, Nicholas (2000). The saints of Cornwall. Oxford University Press. pp. 205–. ISBN 978-0-19-820765-8. http://books.google.com/books?id=JxIjiMStTKIC&pg=PA205. Retrieved 25 September 2011. 
2. ^ Cornish Church Guide (1925) Truro: Blackford; p. 54
3. ^ Altarnon: St Nonna, Altarnon, Church of England, http://www.achurchnearyou.com/altarnon-st-nonna/, retrieved 25 September 2011 
4. ^ ^{a b} Church of St Nonna, Altarnun (1142805). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
5. ^ Mee, Arthur (1937) Cornwall. London: Hodder & Stoughton; pp. 19-20
6. ^ Pevsner, N. (1970) Cornwall, 2nd ed. Penguin Books
7. ^ North East Entrance to Churchyard of Church of St Nonna, Altarnun (1138163). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
8. ^ North West Entrance to Churchyard of Church of St Nonna, Altarnun (1142806). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
9. ^ Gate, gatepiers, wall to right and mounting block at South East Entrance to Churchyard of Church of St Nonna, Altarnun (1328058). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
10. ^ Isbell Tomb in Churchyard of Church of St Nonna, Altarnun (1386520). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
11. ^ Tombchest of J Lawers and Headstone of J Stephens, 7 metres to north of north aisle of Church of St Nonna, Altarnun (1138153). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 25 September 2011.