Page:County Churches of Cornwall.djvu/134

 106 THE CHURCHES OF CORNWALL consists of chancel and nave (in continuous line), S. aisle, quasi N. transept and chapel, S.W. porch, and two W. towers. Interior length of nave and chancel is 102 ft., and width 25 ft. S. aisle is 25 ft. wide, narrowing about 5 ft. in two most eastern bays, that are level with quasi-chancel. Interior width at W. end between two towers 61 ft. No church in Cornwall to compare with St. Ger- mans in richness of historical and ecclesiological associations, nor are there any rivals to the interest- ing variety of its architecture or beauty of situation. To understand nature of building now surviving of a church that was at once conventual and parochial, it is imperative that a bare outline of its story should be given. In early pre-Norm. period church was served by a collegiate community of secular clergy or canons. It was founded in honour of St. German, who became Bishop of French diocese of Auxerre in 425. He came over to Britain to oppose the Pelagian heresy, travelling through England, Wales, and Scotland, and his long venerated name is kept green by twelve old dedications. No reason to doubt tradition of the saint having first landed in St. Ger- mans Creek, and that he made it a centre of his W. country preaching. The first bishops of Cornwall made St. - Germans their cathedral seat ; names of seven who ruled over the county from 931 to 1046 are known. A body of canons held half this large parish at time of Domesday Surve}'. Of the church the)' served, now no portions extant, but in the