Pol De Leon

Plan: West tower, nave and chancel in one (no chancel arch), full length aisles with nine-bay arcades, south porch Exterior: The body of the church is long and low, in contrast with the finely proportioned three-stage tower of granite blocks, probably 15th century.

Elsewhere, 15th century style tracery , some renewed in the early 21st century because of erosion of the polyphant stone.

The deep porch is, perhaps, 15th century with a Georgian slate sundial in the gable.

The north aisle east window retains clear glass in small square panes with timber glazing bars, perhaps early 19th century.

Embedded in the north wall, near the east end, a Saxon cross-shaft with incised scrolls and knot patterns.

evidence that the outer walls survived the fire of 1595 to a significant degree.

1950 with a medieval corn measure as a bowl.

The only irregularity is in the north arcade, next to the pulpit, where a narrower arch and part of a fire-blackened Perp pier with shafts and ringed capital indicates the survival of part of the pre-1595 structure.

In the south aisle is a restored medieval piscina.

Granite font, probably 20th century

Pulpit of local granite, probably late 19th century, with foliate carved mouldings at the angles, and an ogee arch in each face.

The east end is stone flagged, the sanctuary has Victorian encaustic tiles.

Stained glass: good art glass east window with intense hues, signed R. Anning Bell, 1917.

Monuments: Capt. Stephen Hutchens d. 1709

In the north aisle, a memorial to the lost crew of the Penlee Lifeboat, 1981

History: The first record of Paul church is in 1259

On July 23, 1595 raiders from four Spanish galleons attacked Mousehole, Newlyn and Penzance, and set fire to Paul church.

The medieval dedication to St Paul may have referred to any of three saints

file 05985 - reseating, Pevsner, N., Buildings of England, Cornwall 2nd ed., Reasons for Designation: The church of St Pol de Leon, Paul, is designated at Grade I for the following principal reasons: * A Saxon cross shaft in the north wall, and a cross head in the church yard wall, provide significant evidence of Paul's pre-Conquest origins. * The tower, porch, and probably much of the outer walls are substantially 15th century, and possess great character. * Interior, roofs and nave arcades much rebuilt after a Spanish raid in 1595, an unusual date for church architecture anywhere in England. * Splendid village setting on a headland above Newlyn and Mousehole, embodying many aspects of medieval Cornish churches * Careful C19 restoration under the direction of the noted architect J. D. Sedding.