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St Denis

St Denis

Otterham

Cornwall

Possibly with Norman origins

Architectural Features

Norman impost mouldings at springing point of tower arch and remains of two Norman fonts.

Circa C13 font, circa C15 4-bay arcade, some circa C16 tracery and tower possibly rebuilt in 1702 (Maclean, cited by Sedding) reusing earlier material.

The church, which appears to have Norman origins may have possibly comprised nave, chancel, north aisle and west tower.

The tower appears to contain Norman impost mouldings at the springing point of the tower arch

the west door is circa C16 and the belfry lights are also probably contemporary indicating probably C16 rebuilding.

In circa C15 a 4-bay south aisle was added

the tracery in the east window of the south aisle and towards the west end of the nave is probably C16, possibly contemporary with the rebuilding of the tower.

Prior to 1850 part of an old coloured rood-screen was recorded (Sedding).

Circa C16 granite arch to west door with cavetto and roll moulded jambs, incised spandrels and hood mould.

North wall of nave has a C16 Perpendicular 3-light window towards the west end

east window similar to C16 window in nave.

C19 roof with piece of carved wall plate reset on east wall.

Nave, chancel and south aisle with renewed C19 waggon roof and renewed carved bosses in chancel.

Two pieces of carved ribs from the earlier roof have been reset on the north wall.

4-bay arcade of circa C15

Circa C16 granite basket arch at entrance to stair of tower.

C19 furnishings of pitch pine, C19 pulpit and altar table.

Possibly circa C13 font, heavily restored with octagonal shaft, unlined bowl and square base.

Remains of two probably Norman fonts at west end of nave, one with round bowl and the other with an hexagonal bowl.

Slate flag floors to nave and south aisle and glazed C19 ceramic tiles in chancel.

Memorials : Last wall of south aisle, slate ledger stone to Mary, wife of Abel French who died in 1652

Slate ledger stone in tower to Alice, wife of William Grigg, died 1684.

Several ledger stones remonted on outer wall of chancel including slate stone to member of French family who died in 1660.

Sedding, E H Norman Architecture in Cornwall, a handbook of old Cornish Ecclesiastical Architecture 1909.

Sites and Monuments Register, Truro.