St Olaf's Church, Poughill

St Olaf's Church is a Church of England parish church in Poughill, Bude, Cornwall. It is a Grade I listed building.

St Olaf's Church, Poughill
St Olaf’s Church, Poughill
LocationPoughill
CountryGreat Britain
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipConservative Evangelical
History
DedicationSt Olaf
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I listed[1]
Administration
ParishPoughill
DeaneryStratton
ArchdeaconryBodmin
DioceseDiocese of Truro
ProvinceProvince of Canterbury

History

The font dates to the 13th century. The south aisle dates to the 14th and 15th centuries. The porch and west tower are dated to the 15th century.[2] The studded door is dated to the 16th century.

The church seats 300 persons and is dedicated to the Norwegian King and so-called Martyr, St Olaf (Olaf II of Norway). At the restoration in 1928 the foundations of the original Norman church were uncovered but nothing of this remains above ground. 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 (15th century). The piscina and aumbry in the south chancel are 13th century.

Inside the church is a wall of frescoes. The frescoes date from about 1470, and depict St Christopher: they were discovered in 1894 beneath the whitewash. Such paintings were once common in churches; the Poughill accounts record the washing-out of the figures in 1550 at the time of the Reformation in the reign of King Edward VI. 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.

Organ

A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[3]

Vicars

The Ven. Percy Ashford was Vicar of Poughill before he became Chaplain General of Prisons.

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of St Olaf  (Grade I) (1328522)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  2. "Church of St Olaf, Bude-Stratton". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  3. "NPOR R01624". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
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