St Ervan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 50.4938° N 04.9737° W St Ervan is a small rural parish in North Cornwall, England, UK.

The parish church has a very unusual tower, it originally stood only 50 feet high and was built in the 14th/15th centuries. It had the upper part brought down by explosives in the 1880s, but it was not properly capped until 1956 and now stands 24 feet high.

English poet, Sir John Betjeman mentioned the church in his poem "Summoned by Bells" (1960), chapter VIII

The time was tea-time, calm free-wheeling time,
When from slashed tree-tops in the combe below
I heard a bell-note floating to the sun:
It gave significance to lichened stone
And large red admirals with outspread wings
Basking on buddleia. So, coasting down
In the cool shade of interlacing boughs,
I found St Ervan's partly ruined church.
Its bearded Rector, holding in one hand
A gong-stick, in the other hand a book,
Struck, while he read, a heavy-sounding bell,
Hung from an elm bough by the churchyard gate.
"Better come in. It's time for Evensong."

[edit] External links

v • d • e Civil Parishes of North Cornwall District

Cornwall

Advent • Altarnun • Blisland • Bodmin • Boyton • Bude-Stratton • Camelford • Cardinham • Davidstow • Egloshayle • Egloskerry • Forrabury and Minster • Helland • Jacobstow • Kilkhampton • Laneast • Lanhydrock • Lanivet • Launcells • Launceston • Lawhitton Rural • Lesnewth • Lewannick • Lezant • Marhamchurch • Michaelstow • Morwenstow • North Hill • North Petherwin • North Tamerton • Otterham • Padstow • Poundstock • St Breock • St Breward • St Clether • St Endellion • St Ervan • St Eval • St Gennys • St Issey • St Juliot • St Kew • St Mabyn • St Merryn • St Minver Highlands • St Minver Lowlands • St Stephens • St Teath • St Thomas the Apostle Rural • St Tudy • South Petherwin • Stoke Climsland • Tintagel • Tremaine • Treneglos • Tresmeer • Trevalga • Trewen • Wadebridge • Warbstow • Week St Mary • Werrington • Whitstone • Withiel