St Grada and Holy Cross Church, Grade

St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Grade
St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Grade
Coordinates: 49°59′5.94″N 5°11′34.08″W / 49.9849833°N 5.1928000°W / 49.9849833; -5.1928000
Location	Grade
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	St Grada & Holy Cross
Administration
Parish	St Ruan with St Grade
Deanery	Kerrier
Archdeaconry	Cornwall
Diocese	Diocese of Truro
Province	Province of Canterbury
Location of St Grada and Holy Cross Church, Grade in Cornwall
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name	Church of St Grade
Designated	10 July 1957
Reference no.	1141938

St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Grade is the Church of England parish church of Grade with Ruan, Cornwall. The church is a Grade I listed building, having been added to the listed buildings register on 10 July, 1957.^[1]

This unique church is on the Heritage At Risk Register under List Entry Number: 1141938 2018 it is described as:

“a small church in an isolated site.... the slate roof needs repair and the tower has excessive damp ..… the Condition is Poor and the Priority A - immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; no solution agreed.”

Restoration Appeal The church’s elevated and exposed position on the Lizard Peninsula makes it particularly vulnerable to winter gales which dislodge roof slates. Although these are replaced as soon as possible by a skilled local slater, this represents a continuing drain on scarce parish finances and the slater has drawn attention to the poor state of the underlying roof structure. There has been a longstanding re-roofing appeal which for many years has been dormant. However the 2019 quinquennial inspection, carried out by Scott & Co of Truro, recommended a complete renovation of the church. Estimates were sought from local contractors, the one selected totals just over £300,000 +VAT. The Friends of St Ruan and St Grade Historic Church Buildings have broken the project into phases. Phase 1 is for the urgent replacement of the roof of the nave and chancel at a cost of approximately £100,000.

You can donate on our Just Giving Page https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/StGradeAppeal Or contact us through our website by searching The Friends of St Ruan and St Grade Historic Church Buildings.

To view a Virtual 3D Tour of the Church, please go to our website (https://www.friendsofstruanandstgrade.co.uk/the-churches/#virtual_tour).

History[]

On the flat plateau of the Lizard peninsula, the iconic church of St. Grade stands isolated on higher ground and can be seen for many miles when approaching from the east and from the sea where it serves as a landmark for seafarers.

The parish was called St Cross in 1261, but by 1310 it was known as St Grada, Virgin. It is often referred to as St. Grada and Holy Cross in reference to a fragment of the holy cross donated by a knight returning from the crusades in recognition of being saved from a storm.

After a two hundred metre walk down the access byway, the first view is of the imposing 14m circa 1400 tower which contains a single bell.

The C13 and C14 nave and chancel were rebuilt in 1862 incorporating remains of what had been a larger cruciform church which had fallen into disrepair. Although today’s simpler church, consisting of chancel and nave, with a shallow projection to accommodate the organ, vestry and a fireplace, is stylistically early Decorated, the old church dated from the early English period from which remain two relics. The fine grained leucogranite font is a beautiful example of thirteenth century workmanship. On the north wall outside the church is a crude door rebuilt into the wall after the restoration. This would have served as the ‘Devil’s door’ to be opened during baptisms to let evil spirits escape.

On the floor at the east end of the nave, there is an imprint of an enchanting brass, dated 1522, commemorating James Erysey and his wife Margaret, and below them their five sons and five daughters. Originally located in the Erisey chapel in the south transept, it was reset in Delabole stone and relocated when the church was rebuilt. It is one of several memorials in the church to members of the Erisey family who clearly preferred to worship here than at the church of Ruan Major which is closer to their seat at Erisey Barton. James Erisey sailed as a privateer with Sir Francis Drake.

The thirteenth and fourteenth century nave and chancel were rebuilt in 1862−63, incorporating some of the original structure to the designs of the architect Edward William Godwin of Bristol. The construction is mainly of rubble stone, with some large blocks of granite and serpentine in the tower. There are separate slated, steeply-sloping roofs for the nave, chancel, vestry and porch. The unbuttressed tower is at the west end and has two stages.[1]

Other features of the rebuilding were the chancel pulpit and lectern which incorporate beautifully polished serpentine from the Lizard Serpentine Co. in Carleon Cove, Poltesco. The lectern was the gift of Mr Cox, the agent of the company. The church was reopened for worship on 24 July 1863.[3][4]

The funds for the rebuilding in 1862−63 ran out and it was not until 1882 that an organ chamber and vestry were built, according to the original plans of Godwin.[5] The organ was built by Brewer and Co of Truro and the new organ was ″opened″ on 12 March 1885 when a recital was given by Mr G R Sinclair, the organist of Truro Cathedral.[6] The specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[7] Particularly attractive are the late Victorian stained glass windows - three in the south aisle (The Good Shepherd, Christ raising the Lame, and the Baptism of Christ) and three in the chancel (the Crucifixion and Christ in Majesty with seven angels).

Parish Status The settlements of Grade, Ruan Major and Ruan Minor were united into a single civil parish called Grade-Ruan in 1934. The former parish church of Ruan Major is now in ruins. St Grada & Holy Cross is part of a group of parishes comprising:[8] St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Grade St Wynwallow's Church, Landewednack St Rumon's Church, Ruan Minor St Mary's Church, Cadgwith

Parish status[]

The settlements of Grade, Ruan Major and Ruan Minor were united into a single civil parish called Grade-Ruan in 1934. The former parish church of Ruan Major is now in ruins. St Grada & Holy Cross is part of a group of parishes comprising:^[2]

• St Grada & Holy Cross Church, Grade
• St Wynwallow's Church, Landewednack
• St Rumon's Church, Ruan Minor
• St Mary's Church, Cadgwith

Gallery[]

• 

  Interior looking east

• 

  Sanctuary

• 

  The organ

References[]