St Olaf's Parish Church and Poughill (Cornwall) Community Information Portal

Brief Notes

The Church is of exceptional interest and dates from the 14th Century. It can seat up to 150 people and is dedicated to the Norwegian King and so-called Martyr, St Olaf. At the restoration in 1928 the foundations of the original Norman Church were uncovered, but nothing of this remains above ground. The Parish of Poughill is pronounced Poffil and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Since 1876 it has been in the Diocese of Truro, before that in Exeter.

The Pillars on the north side and south arch of the nave are of Caen stone, 14th Century; those of the south side are granite and date from the 15thCentury. The Piscina and Ambry in the south wall of the sanctuary are 13th Century.

Poughill is famous for its splendid carved Oak Bench-ends. The deeply carved ones probably date from the time of Henry VII (1485-1509). Many have emblems and scenes telling, in minute detail, the story of the passion. The other shallow and less expert carvings date from the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603). They are mainly armorial carvings or the sacred initials IHC.

A parishioner carved the Pulpit about 1880 from an oak beam taken from the old Church House building. In the time of the Reformation the pulpit probably stood in the middle of the chancel.

The Oak Communion Table probably dates from Edward Vl's reign and was substituted for the altar according to the Royal Order issued in November1550 for the entire removal of Altars in Churches, and setting up Tables in some convenient part of the Chancel instead. Its simple style and small size (before a new and enlarged top was put on in 1941) may be due to the practice of moving the table into the body of the chancel in the days of Puritan ascendancy.

The Roof of the Church. The Church retains its late15th Century wagon roofs, and, except in the chancel and porch, the plaster panels between the oak beams remain. The carved roof bosses of wood are particularly a feature of the West of Cornwall. Stone roof bosses are common elsewhere. The Vestry door was formerly the entry to the winding stairway to the loft over the Rood Screen, which once extended right across the Church.

The Wall Paintings. Both frescoes date from about 1470, and depict St Christopher. In 1894 they were discovered beneath the whitewash. Such paintings were once common in churches. The Poughill accounts record 'the washing out of the figures' in 1550 at the Reformation. According to the legend, St Christopher was a heathen giant who, on turning Christian, was instructed by a holy hermit to carry travellers over a dangerous ford, and who, one stormy night, carried the child Jesus on his shoulder.

The Royal Arms (1655) in raised plaster over the Vestry doorway possibly contain some inconsistency with their dates.

Charles I's Letter of Thanks (1643). Originally the letter had been painted on the Church wall, but now only the copy hangs in the Church. He thanked his Cornish subjects for their loyalty and efforts in the Civil War. Against overwhelming odds at the Battle of Stamford Hill the Parliamentary forces were routed.

Sir Goldsworthy Gurney Tablet. This is over the main entrance, recording the fact that the clock was placed in the Tower in memory of one whose success in speeding communications brought about the adoption of a standard time (GMT) throughout the country. This occurred only in the 19th century: until 1852 Exeter clocks showed local time.

The Tower is of perpendicular style, 14th Century, with embattled, crocketed pinnacles, and built of granite. It contains a peal of six bells; none, however, of great antiquity. Beneath the tower there was formerly a singing gallery on pillars, put up in 1779, and occupied by a band of instrumentalists and singers before the days of harmonium or organ. This was taken down in 1860. The screen was erected in 1969.

The Font in the tower dates from about 1400. The four pillars of catacleuse stone are modern. A much older font, also of granite may be Norman in origin.

The Porch, perpendicular in style, 14th Century, retains its original stone benches on either side. Formerly it was largely used for secular business. The massive oak door dates from the 15th Century, with its original ironwork, and huge wooden cased lock. The modern oak door dates from 1971. One the east side of the door is the holy water stoup, but the basin has been renovated. Above the inner south door of the porch is a niche, probably once occupied by a statue of the Virgin.

Incumbents of Poughill from 1269 appear on a parchment list on the North Wall. The Register dates from 1537, being the oldest in Cornwall (Truro Diocese) and is in excellent preservation. In the Parish accounts mention is made of the purchase of the first Bible in English in 1540, and the watch kept for the Gunpowder Plot conspirators. The ancient silver chalice and paten date from about 1576. The Church Plate in use today, and plaque in the porch, were presented by Clifton College in gratitude for the use of Poughill Church as their School Chapel during their wartime evacuation from Bristol 1941-1945.