We continue our visit to Camborne Church, with Myghal Map Serpren.
The ‘Leuiut Slab’
This remarkable inscribed altar stone slab which has become known as the ‘Leuiut Altar Slab’ is situated just forward of the screen on the South aisle of 1879 and into the Lady Chapel which was extensively renovated and restored in 1989.
Known as the ‘Pendarves Aisle’ after the influential and wealthy landowners of the period, the Pendarves family vault lays beneath the floor here.
Dated as being from the 10th century by the late Professor Antony Charles Thomas CBE DL FBA FSA FSA Scot (b.1928 d.2016), a local tradition has it that the slab originated from the now-lost chapel of Saint Ia near Troon, less than two miles distant. This has now been accepted as an accurate account of its origins.
Constructed of red granite, the slab is inscribed with the words ‘’LEUIUT IUSIT HEC ALTARE PRO ANIMA SUA’ which translates as ‘Leuiut ordered this altar for the sake of his soul’.
Also found on the Leuiut Slab are five Consecration Crosses which are believed to have been engraved on it as part of a reconsecration which occurred during the later Norman times.
The Leuiut Slab lay in the churchyard for many years before being stored under the church’s Communion Table. It was placed in its current position as part of a First World War memorial scheme.
The slab is mounted on a slate pillar and is designed to closely resemble a similar altar in the village of Venasque in the Vaucluse department of Provence, France.
The Leuiut Altar has frequently been described as Saint Martin and Saint Meriadoc Church’s greatest single treasure.
The wooden cross placed on the slab was constructed of oak recovered from part of the 15th-century aisle roof above.
There is a macabre local tale regarding the Lady Chapel and the Pendarves Vault beneath it. This informs that The Honourable Sir William Pendarves (b.1689 d.1726) who was interred earlier had a coffin of copper constructed from the first of that metal brought up from his mine at the nearby South Roskear and was even known to drink punch from it at Pendarves House. During 1780, the vault and coffin were opened to inter the remains of another member of the family and those carrying out the work were confronted by the body of Sir William with hair and nails which had grown considerably.
The Mermaid and the Green Man
The Parish Church of Saint Senara in Zennor, Cornwall has been frequently visited and written of, owing to the legend of the ‘Mermaid of Zennor’ whose image is to be found on the 600-year-old ‘Mermaids Chair’. It is not generally realised that a mermaid exists in Saint Martin and Saint Meriadocs’s as well.
An examination of the Sanctuary at the head of the Chancel reveals walls panelled with former 15th-century bench ends which have a range of creatures carved on them including a mermaid.
Other carvings include a Green Man, a pagan Celtic fertility symbol usually depicted with foliage growing from them or around them. These are found in a large number of churches and cathedrals but often need to be sought out.
The Sedilia, the bench designed for the priest, is similarly constructed of former bench ends dating from the 15th century.
The Oddfellows and other stained glass windows
Saint Martin and Saint Meriadoc’s has no less than 15 beautiful stained glass windows.
Five in the North Aisle commemorate individual families and date from the 1960s and depict ‘The Holy Family with the Arms of the Diocese of Truro and Saint Martin’, ‘The Marriage at Cana, Christ and the Children’, ‘The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem’ and ‘Christ in Majesty’.
The East window of the Lady Chapel, continues the chapel’s close connection with the Pendarves family by having a magnificent collection of 29 heraldic shields which relate to the genealogy of the family. The window is dedicated to the memory of Edward William Wynne Pendarves (b.1775 d.1853) and dates from 1864.
The East window of the outer South Aisle depicting ‘The Works of Mercy’ commemorates the Reverend Canon William Pester Chappel M.A. (also Chappell, Chapple etc) (b.Truro 1828 d.Camborne 1900) dates from 1898 and marked his 40th year as Rector of Camborne which commenced in 1858 and finally ended with his death.
Reverend Canon Chappel was indeed a popular clergyman for another stained glass window situated in the outer South Aisle depicting ‘Saint Peter, Saint Andrew and Saint James’ was dedicated to his memory during the year of his death, 1900.
The outer South Aisle also has stained glass windows depicting ‘The Last Supper and the Institution of Holy Communion’ dating from 1969 and in memory of members of the Gundry family, ‘The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet’ in memory of members of the Pellew family, ‘The Commissioning of the Apostles’ in memory of a further Rector of Camborne from 1934 to 1944, The Reverend Canon D.E. Morton and his wife and ‘The Parable of the Vine and Branches’ dating from 1961 in memory of members of the Odgers family. Many of these are longstanding local families with modern descendants.
The inner South Aisle has a window showing ‘Christ and the Impotent Man at the Pool of Bethesda’ dating from 1864 and in memory of Edward Lanyon.
The Belfry window shows ‘Saint Martin dividing his cloak with the beggar and Saint Martin’s Baptism’ and dates from 1862 having been funded by the younger men of the parish.
Of great personal interest is the West window in the North Aisle, ‘The Oddfellows’ Window’.
This was paid for by the Loyal Basset Lodge of the Oddfellows Friendly Society and consecrated by the Reverend Canon Chappel in 1863. It celebrates the marriage of the then Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, later King Edward VII (b.1841 d.1910), to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, later Queen Alexandra (b.1844 d.1925) which occurred on 10th March, 1863 at Saint George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
The four-light window was paid for by the Lodge bearing the family’s name at the then substantial cost of nine shillings and sixpence (47.5 decimal pence) per foot of glass, around £50 per foot in today’s prices.
Bearing the dedication “Presented by the Odd Fellows of the Loyal Basset Lodge AD MDCCCLXIII” the first light depicts the Dove of the Holy Spirit, the second light the emblems and symbols of the Odd Fellows with the All Seeing Eye with the emblem of the Society beneath flanked by the maternal figure of Charity with children to the left and the female figure of Hope with her anchor to the right, the third light a widow and her children pursued by Want who approaches from over the late husband’s grave and the words “Widows’ & Orphans’ Fund over a figure representing succour and protection, with the fourth light depicting Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God, a symbol of Jesus Christ.
These 15 windows are truly magnificent and worthy of close inspection.
Next time, we’ll look at the crosses in and around the churchyard.
References
- Placenames in Cornwall and Scilly – Craig Weatherhill, Wessex Books in association with Westcountry Books, Launceston, Cornwall 2005
- A Guide to Cornish Place-Names – R. Morton Nance, The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, 1950
- Cornish Church Guide And Parochial History Of Cornwall – Charles Henderson M.A., D. Bradford Barton Ltd., Truro, 1964
All images author’s own, except where stated.
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