St Peter

The stocky west tower has a saddleback roof and upper stage added in 1887-8, reinstating the medieval upper stage which was ruinous by the 17th century.

The inner south door is Norman, with chamfered jambs and a segmental head which has a simple rope mouding.

Next to it a four-light square-headed window, perhaps c.1500-40.

The north aisle was added in the 15th century.

Wagon roofs of 1887, with re-used medieval bosses in the chancel.

Principal Fixtures: Norman font circular bowl with a herringbone pattern on the chamfered upper rim, large and small chip-carved rosettes, then chevrons around the base of the bowl.

On the north side of the tower arch is a stoup (ex-situ), also with pretty Norman chip carving.

Oak panelled reredos of 1908, the upper arches copied from a Jacobean pulpit formerly in the church.

Oak pulpit with reliefs from the life of St Peter, perhaps Edwardian.

Monuments: North of the altar, an ambitious and showy standing monument to Otwell Hill, d. 1617: this comprises a stiffly reclining husband, his wife in similar pose on a lower shelf, both with elbows resting on red marble cushions

the surround is everywhere ornamented with ribbons, rosettes, etc. In the north aisle, a humbler slate tablet to Lewis Dart d. 1632, showing his widow and nine children kneeling beneath two arches.

On the exterior of the porch, another slate tablet to George Carew, d. 1661, with crude classical patterns incised.

Subsidiary Features: The upper churchyard gate includes two 15th century pinnacles from the tower, found under the porch and placed here in 1887-8.

The churchyard paths are lined with seaworn boulders crudely carved as grave markers, mainly 18th century.

History: A church is documented by 1230, and (given the Norman south door and font) probably existed significantly earlier.

It was rededicated in 1259, the south transept added probably in the early 14th century, and the north aisle in the 15th century.

By the 17th century the upper tower was in a state of collapse.

Sources: Pevsner, N. and Radcliffe, E., The Buildings of England, Cornwall Lambeth Palace Library, Incorporated Church Building Society Archive, folio 09202 (www.churchplansonline.org) Reasons for Designation: The church of St Peter, Mevagissey, is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * A good medieval village church of the humbler sort, nestled low in its sloping churchyard and retaining a nicely decorative Norman doorcase, chip-carved font and stoup * 14th and 15th century nave, tower, transept and north aisle

also two piscinae from the early 14th century * Largely Victorian fittings, from a restoration by J.P. St Aubyn, are complemented by the splendid early 17th century monument to Otwell Hill.