St Probus and St Grace's Church, Probus

St Probus and St Grace’s Church, Probus
St Probus and St Grace’s Church, Probus
Coordinates: 50°17′30.2″N 4°57′8.65″W / 50.291722°N 4.9524028°W
Location	Probus, Cornwall
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad church
History
Dedication	St Probus and St Grace
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed[1]
Specifications
Height	126 feet (38 m)
Administration
Parish	Probus
Deanery	Powder
Archdeaconry	Cornwall
Diocese	Diocese of Truro
Province	Province of Canterbury

St Probus and St Grace’s Church, Probus is a Grade I listed^[1] parish church in the Church of England in Probus, Cornwall.

History

There was a monastery here before the Norman Conquest which continued to exist until the reign of Henry I. King Henry gave the church of Probus to Exeter Cathedral and the clergy of Probus thereafter were a dean and five canons (the deanery was abolished in 1268 and the canonries in 1549). The first vicar was instituted in 1312; the parish had dependent chapelries at Cornelly and Merther. The church was built mainly in the 15th century but the tower was still under construction in 1523. In the church is the brass of John Wulvedon and his wife, 1512.^[2]

The church was restored in 1850 by George Edmund Street. The restoration was prompted by an outbreak of dry rot. The ceilings had been covered at some time with plaster, and the pillars with whitewash. The church was filled with high pews made of deal. The arch into the tower was blocked up with a gallery, shutting out the principal west window. All of these defects were rectified and it reopened on 28 October 1851.^[3]

The tower was restored between 1922 and 1923 by J Dawson and Sons, Steeplejacks.^[4]

In the early years of the 19th century the rare custom of turning to the East for the Doxology at the conclusion of the recitation of each Psalm, particularly by those in choir, was observed in Probus church.

Parish status

The church is in a joint parish with

• St Crida's Church, Creed
• St Nun’s Church, Grampound
• St Ladoca's Church, Ladock
• St Hermes' Church, St Erme

Organ

The organ dates from 1884 and was built by Hele & Co. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.^[5]

References

1. Historic England. "Church of St Probus  (Grade I) (1310352)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
2. Dunkin, E. (1882) Monumental Brasses. London, Spottiswoode
3. "Re-opening of Probus Church". Royal Cornwall Gazette (Falmouth). 31 October 1851. Retrieved 27 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
4. "Probus Church Restoration". Royal Cornwall Gazette (Falmouth). 22 December 1922. Retrieved 27 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
5. "NPOR N12417". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies.