Record completed for St Martin’s Church, Looe, December 2023

After two and a half years of hard work, it was a great pleasure for members of the Church Recording team to be able present the completed Record of the contents of St. Martin’s Church, Looe to the priest and congregation at the beginning of December, 2023. They were delighted to receive it and were interested in the whole process of gathering the information about the different items in the church. The recorders had found it an interesting and challenging church to record because of its long history and many possessions. Highlights were a silver salver made by a little-known Liskeard silversmith, the woodcarving of Violet Pinwill, the elaborate Langdon Monument and the stained-glass windows. We are looking forward to beginning a new project at St. Manarch at Lanreath in 2024.

Photographs available to view in the Gallery Here

On 16 October, the Liskeard Arts church recorders formally presented their record to St Wenna at Morval. It had in fact been completed in 2020, but mainly because of covid the presentation had to be postponed until now.

For information about church recording, see https://www.liskeardartssociety.org.uk/OtherActivities/ChurchRecorders.aspx (or click on the Volunteering tab, above, then select Church recorders)

As well as the Liskeard Arts recorders in the photograph, the team includes Nigel Midlen, Judith Markes, Susan Barnes and Deborah Butters.

In the photograph, L--R: Frances Impey, John Davis, Pat Francis, the Revd. Ben Morgan Lundie, Val Olver (church warden) Jill Saunders,  Mike Willmott (church warden).

Photograph reproduced by kind permission of Pat Francis.

A Church Record promotes the recognition and preservation of the rich artistic heritage in places of worship of all religions, by recording their fixtures and furnishings. We also research the history of these objects by visits to Cornwall Record Office. 

The Liskeard Arts Society church recorders are helping to create, in words and photographs, a comprehensive record of the furnishings, artefacts and some of the fabric of a church as it is in the 21st century. Members of the churches we have recorded are sometimes surprised by what we find! This artistic heritage can be at risk from theft, negligence, fire or flood; but once a church has a record, then any necessary restoration or recovery is much simpler. So in making the record, we hope to ensure the preservation and appreciation of a rich and important cultural heritage.  

Participating churches are presented with an illustrated book detailing each item and its history. Copies of the record are also deposited at Historic England, the Church Care Council, the National Art Library (V&A) and local County Records Office or County History Centre.

We have recorded the churches at Quethiock, St. Winnow and St. Ive, and Sheviock and St. Wenna, Morval.  If you would like to join us, you'd be very welcome.

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