Saint Breaca

PLAN: nave/chancel (with chancel roof stepped down) west tower,north and south aisles are all of one build taking 6 years 1460-1466 (Church Guide)

The south porch was probably added next and finally the north and south transepts just west of the rood screen which are probably late C15.

Three-stage tower with plinth and set back weathered corner buttresses with set-offs, strings dividing stages, carved head gargoyles under cornice of embattled parapet and crocketted corner pinnacles over blind-panelled embattled turrets.

The bracket-moulded west doorway is 4-centred with carved spandrels and label stops terminating at plinth moulding level

The traceried 4-light granite window directly over the doorway is C15 Perpendicular with hoodmould as are all the other windows in the church but there is variation in the detail.

Pre C15 plinth and other masonry.

C17 inscribed former chest tomb slate attached to south wall of chancel.

Studded, probably C17, 2 panel door.

INTERIOR has much C15 timberwork: ceiled waggon roofs with carved bosses over the aisles

Behind are the two best preserved mid c15th wall paintings; St. Christopher with the infant Christ on his shoulder and Christ blessing the trades on the right.

© Michael Garlick

coffered ceiling with cross braced panels and carved bosses over the north aisle and a moulded beam and some moulded joists to the tower ceiling.

Incorporated into windows in the south wall right (east) of the transept and the east window of the south transept is some medieval glass

Murals: Arguably the most remarkable C15 features however are the fine painted murals on the north and south walls including a very striking figure of Saint Christopher on the left of the north doorway.

Fittings: mostly C19 including round granite font with round corner shafts in the Norman manner

traceried oak rood screen

traceried granite tower screen (given as a memorial to James Jewill Hill).

Earlier fittings include: in the north west corner of the north aisle, a Roman milestone bearing the name of Emperor Cassianus Posthumus (260-268 A.D.) found a few hundred yards from the church in 1924 (Church Guide)

a probably C14 stone representing the crucifixion in the Godolphin Chapel, found by the coast near Tremearne (Church Guide)

and a painted copy of a letter from Charles I 1643, at 'Sudly' Castle.

Monuments: the east end of the south aisle is the burial place of the Godolphin family and is known as the Godolphin Chapel

on the south wall a pedimented monument with urn to Peter James, died 1850 aged 76

three memorial windows with coloured glass to the members of the Carter family.

The glass in the west window of the south aisle given by the parishioners in 1863 to commemorate the marriage of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales to Alexandra, Princess of Denmark.

For whatever reason the result is a remarkably complete C15 building.

The only serious change since built (excluding the loss of all the C15

C16 fittings) is the replacement of the nave and chancel roofs in the C19.