ST ENODOC CHURCH CORNWALL

The Church

St Enodoc lies the the parish of St Minver, why there's a Church here is a mystery. There is no doubt that this is an ancient place of worship. Some of the architecture dates back to the 12th century, which make makes the Church a Grade 1 listed building. From the 16th - the middle of the 19th century the Church was virtually buried by the sand dunes. Restoration work took place between 1863-64, since it's renovation in1864 this church has found its way into countless hearts including Sir John Betjeman and me and my family, I think if and when My daughter starts a family I can imaging her coming down here and saying "your grandad loved this place so much and every time he took the same old photos". Another Thing that stands out is the spire which leans over to one side.So if you're in Cornwall anytime I would pay this little a visit, you won't be disappointed

St Enodoc Seen From Brea Hill

The Churchyard

St Enodoc is situated on the North Coast of Cornwall near a crescent shaped beach called Daymer Bay, to get to the church you have to walk across a golf course and by the 11th green you will find this church surround by Tamarisk.




You Have To Cross The 13th Fairway, So Look Right For Low Flying Golf Balls

As you enter through a little lynchgate with its slate coffin rest in the middle, the first thing you notice is either side of the path the ground is a lot higher, this is due to when the church was buried up to its eaves in sand.

Through The Lychgate

The only way into the church was through a sunlight in the roof, when you walk around the outside of the church today you can still see the sand is still halfway up the wall in places.

You Can See At The Far End Of The Church, How High The Sand got

For many years now I have been coming to this church as I find it a calming place to sit and take in the sight and sounds. This place meant such a lot to my late wife that before she passed away she would have liked to have had her ashes buried here.This little church also meant a lot to Firefighter Fleur Lombard who lost her life fighting a fire in Bristol on 6th February 1996 age just 21 years,making her the first Female firefighter to die in civil action in Great Britain




Fleur Lombards Ashes are Buried In The Top Left Hand Corner Of The Churchyard

The most famous grave in the small Churchyard as to be that of the Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman,

you'll find his grave on your right as you enter through the lychgate. His headstone is a nice piece of local slate with beautiful writing and carvings on it.




A Beautiful Headstone For A Great Man

How His Grave Looked Shortly After his Burial In 1984

Not Much Grass Left After Extra Visitors To The Church


Sir John passed away in Treen which was in his house in Daymer Bay Lane Trebetherick, he passed on 19th May 1984

Mabel Betjeman's Grave

Looking Towards The Camel Estuary And Stepper Point

                                                                 Inside St Enodoc





As you step inside the porch on your left is a memorial to a Father and Daughter, John and Alice who died within days of each other. The Date they buried is Dec 1867



Memorial to John And Alice Mably



Lovely 17th Century Carvings On The Headstones

 

                                                    Inscription On The Headstone

                                                          

                                                          Remember man within
                                                           The youthful days
                                                           To serve the lord
                                                           Rare death thy seize
                                                           Then live to dye
                                                           To gain so high a piece
                                                           That thy poor soul
                                                           May live paradise

                                                           Here is the love of my
                                                           Wife shown that where
                                                           Wee layith by this
                                                           It may be known
                                                           My wife and I did
                                                           Love so well a green
                                                           Yet I must part for god
                                                           Would have it so to be
                                                            From my wife.
           

Whilst walking around the Churchyard you will see plenty of headstones with the surname "Mably or Mabley"



Layout Of The Church

On the left of the photo you will see the Font which is Norman, it has cable mouldings and is mounted on a modern Granite base


Looking Towards the Alter

All that's let's left of the Rood Screen is the base, it dates back to the 15th century.Its origins are unknown,but it's assumed that it was truncated at the time of the reformation or Commonwealth.

The Rood Screen



A Close Up Of Two Of The Panels Of The Rood Screen

The Window In The Bell Tower



The tower is an 13th century addition, surmounted by its slightly curved broach spire.
The spire houses a single bell which was purchased in1875 from the wreck of the Immacolata of Barletta in Italy, which had gone aground on the and was lost on the Doom Bar, it carries the the inscription Sahel which indicates that either the vessel had been renamed or that it came off another ship.

Open Pages

A Memorial Tablet To Earnest Edward Betjemann

During the war John Betjeman decided to drop the extra letter N from his surname to make it sound less German.

The Memorial to the Brig Maria Assumpta

The memorial is to the three crew who lost their lives when the Maria Assumpta hit rocks after the engines failed. The captain was later charged with manslaughter after it was discovered that he took a route not recommend by the Admiralty. He made the bad decision of taking a scenic route be the Rumps that stick out from the coast and the small island called the Mould and Pentire point, when the Maria Assumpta was between these points, the engine suddenly stop and could not be restarted and the Maria Assumpta was smashed against the rocks taking Emily Macfarlane, John Shannon and Ann Taylor with her.



A Piece Of Wreckage From The Maria Assumpta That I found on Polzeath Beach

                                                                     
                                                           Church Kneeling Cushions



Plaice



Lobster



                                                                         Windows



Simple Light

Beautiful Rays

Pure Light

Way To The Day Light

Looking Towards The Lychgate

The Crooked Spire

Looking East

Waiting For My Owner,

                                                 These two photos were taken in May 2012



A Weddings Due

Not Just An Outbuilding

Not many people know when they go past this building to the Church, that this was once a Mortuary.When the body of sailors were found after shipwrecks along this part of the coast they were brought to this building awaiting burial .

                                                     

                                                        Sunday Afternoon Service In
                                                        St Enodoc Church Cornwall



Poem By Sir John Betjeman

                                                        

                                                      

IF HEAVEN WAS A PLACE ON EARTH

Oh St Enodoc if Heaven was on Earth here it would be

I love sitting at the top of your churchyard to take in the views

Across the Doom Bar to the point of Stepper,Daymer Bay

And the start of the path to the cliffs of Greenaway

In the shadow of Brae Hill you stand

It’s hard to believe once to your roof

You were buried in sand

Then the only way to enter was through a hole in your roof

When people would travel by foot and by hoof

With your crooked stone spire standing proud

On the first Sunday your bell would ring loud

Telling people to hurry it’s time to sing and pray

On this bright holy day

Sat in your churchyard I hear the sound of Golf club on ball

Amid the sound of the mighty Atlantic roar

The waves roll over the bar that claimed sailor lives

That are no more

Some of the Golfers pant and puff

Sorry old boy you’re in the rough

Swish, good shot old boy you've made the green

On the tricky hole that is thirteen

In your churchyard you have ancient bones

Of people from Rock,Trebetherick and Polzeath

Who lived in the villages from their birth to their death

I remember the day when Betjeman was laid to rest

Many people turned out in their mourning best

The wind did blow and the rain did pour

Back in the year of 1984

Through the gateway on your right you’ll find Sir John

The headstone is made of slate with is Black and hard

That will stand for many years over this great Bard

                                                                                                      Poem By BBB

                           All Photos Taken And Owned by DD Pearce Of Darrin's Photography