Page:County Churches of Cornwall.djvu/176

 148 THE CHURCHES OF CORNWALL table-tomb in chancel with effigy in armour of Sir John Chamond, 1624. Special feature of church is wealth of carved bench-ends, upwards of 60, bearing curious symbols of the Ascension, Resurrection, and Washing of the Feet, in addition to the more usual ones of the Passion. 1 Base of screen with painted figures of the Apostles was destroyed many years ago. (Registers, 1642.) Launceston. — The church of St. Mary Magda- lene, consecrated 18 June, 1524, consists of chancel and nave of 8 bays, with continuous aisles, S. porch, and S. tower. The fabric, excepting tower, com- pleted at date of consecration, is entirely of granite within and without; the area is 103 ft. by 53 ft. Whole of exterior is richly panelled with sculpture somewhat coarsely executed, but a marvel of cost and cunning when hardness of material is considered. There is every reason to discredit the absurd story that Sir Henry Trecarrell,therefounder of thischurch, built it with stones designed for a great mansion at Trecarrell, design of which was abandoned on the suicide of his son and heir. The wall-plinths are sculptured with quatrefoils, the centres of which ■ have a shield and a fleur-de-lis alternately ; above o~ this is another course of tracery, in which are shields ^ bearing coats of arms and letters. The letters, j» beginning at the chancel door and extending east- ward, form the legends: — Ave Maria grade plena 1 See illustrated article on the more remarkable examples in the Reliquary, N.S., vol. v. pp. 42-45.