Altarnun Church Cornwall - St. Nonna
Altarnun - Hatchment Detail Click here to download |
Altarnun - The Font Click here to download |
Altarnun - The Nave Click here to download |
Altarnun - The Pulpit Click here to download |
Altarnun - Detail from Bench End Click here to download |
Altarnun - Exterior View Click here to download |
The village and especially the church at Altarnun is among the most photographed in the County both inside and out. This is a very spacious church and although there are only 5 bays, they are wide and generous.
The present church consists of a chancel, nave, aisles, north and south porches and a west tower of 109 feet, among the tallest in the County. The tower is perpendicular but the lower stages date back to late 14th century. The porches retain their wagon roofs.
The church was largely reconstructed and enlarged in 15th cent. There is much evidence of Norman work including the piscina shaft and part of Norman capital built into the North wall of North Aisle.
Two of the great highlights of this church are the font and the benchends. The font has bearded faces at each corner and with serpents and cable moulding, it is one of the largest in the County. There are 79 carved bench ends dating from around 1523 to 1554 and include the five wounds of Christ, a jester and a fiddler are also included.
Church carefully restored in 1867 by Edmund Sedding leaving roofs of both aisles and porches untouched. The screen was restored in 1888. There is a spacious chancel and a wonderful array of carvings.
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