Page:County Churches of Cornwall.djvu/262

 224 THE CHURCHES OF CORNWALL Temple. — On high moorlands, 6 miles from Bodmin, is diminutive church (St. Catherine) of this small parish, consisting of chancel, nave, N. transept, S. porch, and W. tower. The present writer visited the ruins, which had been utterly neglected for about a century, in 1876; they were overgrown with rank vegetation, bushes, and trees, but clear evidences of its having been a small cruci- form church of Norm, origin. Rebuilt and restored to sacred uses in 1883. The circular Norm, bowl of font, of Pentewan stone, 26 in. in diameter, is the one relic of the old church. (Registers, 1882.) St. Thomas-by-Launceston. — Parish church of St. Thomas the Apostle stands near the remains of Austin priory founded here in 11 26 by Bishop Warelwast of Exeter. It consists of chancel, nave of 5 bays, S. aisle and porch, and W. tower. Re- built in 15th cent., to which period surviving old work mainly pertains ; drastic restoration in 1871. Chief feature of church is exceptionally fine Norm, font of Hicks Mill stone, with heads at angles and 4 circular ornaments on bowl ; bowl is 36 in. square and 20 in. deep on exterior. A Norm, tympanum, carved with two circular designs, and having a small Agnus Dei above them, has been built into front of 15th cent. S. porch low down. The two- staged tower, of somewhat mean proportions, is 14th cent., but a good deal altered at later periods. A low tower screen has 4 pieces of old linen-fold panelling incorporated in the work. On S. side