St Paul's Church, Truro
History
The church was built in 1845 at a cost of £2,840 (equivalent to £354,890 in 2023). The church was paid for by William Tweedy who advanced the money interest free. It opened for worship on 23 November 1845. As the church was in debt, the bishop refused to consecrate it and it took 20 years for the congregation to clear the debt and endow the living. Finally the parish raised £1,100, to which the church commissioners added £1,000, which was invested to provide a stipend for the vicar of £66 15s 4d per annum (equivalent to £8,290 in 2023).
The church was consecrated in on 26 November 1864 by the Bishop of Exeter, Henry Phillpotts, and given its own parish. By 1880 the church was insufficient in size for its growing congregation, and a committee was formed to enlarge it with the addition of a chancel, north and south aisles. The congregation employed the architect John Dando Sedding. A consecration service took place for the new chancel on 7 January 1884, which had been built by Mr. W Bone of Liskeard for £3,000 (equivalent to £395,000 in 2023).
The north aisle was added in 1889 and the church reopened on 27 June 1889.
The tower was completed by Edmund Harold Sedding in 1910.
The church is noted for its stained glass scheme by Lavers, Barraud and Westlake.
Closure and planned demolition
The church closed in 2007 after significant structural problems were identified in the quinquennial survey. With an estimated repair bill of £1,000,000, the congregation decided to move to alternative premises.
In 2018, the Church of England announced that the church was too expensive to repair. In October 2024, it was reported that the church would be demolished. A public consultation will take place over the proposals, with work possibly starting in 2025.
Organ
The church contained an organ by Hele and Co. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
See also
References
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St Paul, Tregolls Road (Grade II) (1280376)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ "Cornwall". Exeter Flying Post. Exeter. 27 November 1845. Retrieved 27 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Consecration of St Paul's Church, Truro". Royal Cornwall Gazette. Falmouth. 2 December 1864. Retrieved 27 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Enlargement of St Paul's Church, Truro". Royal Cornwall Gazette. Falmouth. 11 January 1884. Retrieved 27 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "St Paul's Church, Truro. Re-opening Today". West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. Falmouth. 27 June 1889. Retrieved 27 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Ivall, Stephen (24 July 2007). "Truro church to close". This is the West Country. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- ^ Vergnault, Olivier (2 March 2018). "Landmark church faces demolition as it slowly crumbles". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Vergnault, Olivier (23 October 2024). "Landmark church to be demolished". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "St Paul's church in Truro could be demolished for safety reasons". BBC News. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "NPOR [N11153]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 27 September 2015.