England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
St Columb Minor St Columba

The Parish

The parish of St Columb Minor, the suffix to distinguish it from its larger near neighbour, lies roughly midway along Cornwall's extensive northern coastline forming a lengthy stretch of this picturesque coastline. St Columb Minor is located roughly 12 miles north of the cathedral city of Truro and sits on and mostly north of the A3058 road which connects the coastal resort of Newquay with the A30 road from London to Penzance. Whilst St Columb Minor is the settlement that grants its name to the parish it is now dominated by and absorbed by the growth of Newquay becoming merely the easternmost suburb of that popular surfing venue. Such is Newquay's growth that it now forms roughly triangular urban spread with each axis over 2 miles in length and fronting the Atlantic for the entire length between Trevelgue Head and Pentire Point. The parish would have had a diverse economy, inland the village supported largely pastoral farming whilst typical Cornish mining of lead & quarrying of stone employed many. Of Newquay there was only a modest pilchard fishing community until the completion of the tramway and new port allowing Newquay to flourish from the exporting of traditional tin and other minerals from interior mines to eventually make the town the premier port of the north Cornish coast. Following the collapse of the Cornish mining industry in the 19th century the tramway was converted into today's passenger railway line linking to the main London to Penzance railway and the forming fishing port grew to support the Victorian trend for sea-bathing. Today the Atlantic provides Newquay with its swells making the town the premier surfing hot-spot and attracting devotees from across the globe. In addition the entire coastline benefits from the South West Way National Trail which provides access to the splendid cliff-line either side of Newquay and supplies numerous visitors for overnight stays. Tourism is now the major income for the area. The major stream draining the parish runs down to Porth Beach whilst to its south the River Gannel marks its course to Crantock Beach. St Columb Minor is sited at around 50 metres but the wider parish runs from sea-level up to around 120 metres en route to St Columb Major. Covering over 5,500 acres the parish was extensive but as it included much unproductive land only would have supported a population of around 1,700 parishioners at the time of this transcript, the population today is many 10s of thousands. In Domesday times the are was recorded in 2 manors, Treloy & Railton, both holdings of the Canons of Bodmin; together their assets of 14 ploughs supported by meadows & woodland made for mid-range rural holdings.

The Church

St Columba's church sits on the northern edge of St Columb Minor at the top of Church Street and above the fall into the valley holding the stream making the northern edges of the built area. The church is a product of the late medieval period with its core from the late 14th and 15th centuries in a Perpendicular style throughout. Whilst it is the lofty western tower that draws the eye that feature is the later piece pre-dated by the main body of nave and chancel. Both the 4-bay nave and 2-bay chancel show piers characteristic of the 14th century and bearing close comparison with those at nearby St Columb Major. The imposing western tower, which is a landmark across the district and, indeed, well out to sea, dominates the church. Standing 115 feet tall and built in 4 stages it is, as Pevsner notes, a "proud" tower indeed. Restoration of the church began early with a significant work of 1785 being followed by a major restoration of 1884 which amounted to a "reconstruction" according to Pevsner. This is best seen internally where floor levels were heightened and lowered in chancel and nave respectively as well as having most of the previously 15th century roofs renewed. Approaching up Church Street the imposing stone lychgate grants entry, a black sign to its left points the way to the large village car park where sensible visitors will deposit their vehicles. Such is the height of the western tower that choosing an angle to encompass both the main body and tower is tricky but the extensive churchyard allows opportunity to achieve this, a boon for the photographer.