Page:County Churches of Cornwall.djvu/144

 n6 THE CHURCHES OF CORNWALL is 14th cent., but porch over it is 15th cent. Gable cross of porch bears the rood ; on corbel stones at ends of coping are two pairs of monkeys. Rude circular bowl of font, with two heads in bold relief, is early Norm. The 15th cent, three-staged tower, of granite ashlar, has fine crocketed pinnacles, springing from angels. Much of chancel rebuilt c. i860, and a general "thorough restoration" in 1891-2. 1 At N.E. angle of churchyard is a curious small structure known as "St. Germoe's Chair," or " King Germoe's Throne." Its internal measure- ment is 6 ft. 3 in. by 3 ft. 6 in.; it is entered by two pointed archways, 6 ft. high, supported by a circular pier and responds; at the back is a seat divided into 3 compartments by 2 shafts, with a sculptured crowned head in apex of the centre one. St. Germoch, an Irish king or chieftain, crossed over with St. Breoca and others about 460, and landed at Riviere on the Hayle estuary. Leland, temp. Henry VIII., writing of this parish, states that St. Germoch's " tumbe is yet seen there," and also names " St. Germoke's Chair in the Chirch- yard." The most reasonable tradition is that it was from this site that the saint preached his first sermon in Cornwall. Present building is probably 15th cent. (Registers, 1682.) St. Gerrans (St. Gerendus). — Chancel with S. 1 For a good illustrated account of the church, prior to restora- tion, see Arch. Journal, 1861, pp. 248-53.