St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Week St Mary

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Cornish village of Week St Mary is an active Anglican church in the Archdeaconry of Bodmin and the Diocese of Truro, one of five churches in the Bude Coast and Country BeneficeOriginally used in feudal societies to describe a grant of land as a reward for services rendered. In modern usage it refers to a collection of parishes working together under a single incumbent..^[1][a]The others are St Michael’s, Marhamchurch: St Marwenne, Poundstock: St Winwaloe, Widemouth Bay; Our Lady & St Anne and Whitsone: St Anne.^[1]

The earliest parts of the Grade I listed buildingStructure of particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection. date from the 14th century, but there is some 13th-century masonry in the chancelPart of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy.Part of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy..^[2]

Architecture

The church is largely in the perpendicular style with a slate roof, and comprises a naveCentral part of a church, used by the laiety., chancelPart of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy.Part of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy., north and south aisles, west tower and south porchVestibule before the main entrance to a Christian church, less sacred than the church proper.; the porch and battlemented tower were added in the late 15th or early 16th century. The porch, aisles and chancel are built of slatestone with granite dressings, the tower of granite ashlarMasonry of squared and finely cut or worked stone, commonly used for the facing of a building., topped by four tall octagonal corbelledStructural piece of stone, wood or metal jutting from a wall to carry a superincumbent load. pinnacles terminating in crosses.^[2]

The tower contains a ring of six bells, hung in 1731 and repaired in 1887.^[3] The church was extensively restored by the architect James Piers St Aubyn between 1876 and 1881.^[2]

Interior

The choir stalls date from 1891, the benches from 1926–1930, and the granite font is probably 16th-century.^[2] The church contains a Bevington organ.^[4]