St Fimbarrus Church
Fowey's Parish Church is an impressive structure built in the 1460's after a French raid on Fowey left it in ruins. An ancient site of worship, the church is built upon the ground of an earlier Norman Church but unfortunately all that survives of this is the Norman font.
St Fimbarrus is a latinised version of the name St. Finn Barr, the first Bishop of Cork. En route to Rome, St Finn Barr took the old pilgrim and trade route to Padstow and then travelled overland to Fowey and built a little sheltered church in the hills. The Norman church built at Fowey in 1150 A.D was served by Benedictine monks but in 1328 the church here was destroyed possibly at the hands of pirates. A new church was consecrated 6 years later and dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, St. Nicholas of Bari. The new name never caught on and the church continued to be known popularly as that of St. Finbar.
1456 saw the church's next destruction. This was an attack of revenge by the French conducted in return for Fowey's seafaring attacks on the French coast. The French were defeated by the efforts of a local at the next door Great House. He is said to have poured molten lead upon those annoying French heads!
St Fimbarrus' Church was restored in 1460, 1500 and the at the end of the 19th century. On your visit, you'll see the tower which dates from 1460 and is the second highest standing in Cornwall. You'll also see the 500 year old wagon roof and rood screen as well as the 400 year old pulpit constructed from a Spanish Galleon's captain's cabin.
St Fimbarrus is a latinised version of the name St. Finn Barr, the first Bishop of Cork. En route to Rome, St Finn Barr took the old pilgrim and trade route to Padstow and then travelled overland to Fowey and built a little sheltered church in the hills. The Norman church built at Fowey in 1150 A.D was served by Benedictine monks but in 1328 the church here was destroyed possibly at the hands of pirates. A new church was consecrated 6 years later and dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, St. Nicholas of Bari. The new name never caught on and the church continued to be known popularly as that of St. Finbar.
1456 saw the church's next destruction. This was an attack of revenge by the French conducted in return for Fowey's seafaring attacks on the French coast. The French were defeated by the efforts of a local at the next door Great House. He is said to have poured molten lead upon those annoying French heads!
St Fimbarrus' Church was restored in 1460, 1500 and the at the end of the 19th century. On your visit, you'll see the tower which dates from 1460 and is the second highest standing in Cornwall. You'll also see the 500 year old wagon roof and rood screen as well as the 400 year old pulpit constructed from a Spanish Galleon's captain's cabin.
