Page:County Churches of Cornwall.djvu/275

 THE CHURCHES OF CORNWALL 235 of chance], nave, N. aisle, S. porch, and W. bell- turret ; it is chiefly early 15th cent., but E. window of chancel is 14th cent. Restored in 1863-4. Arcade of 4 low arches is supported on granite mono- lith piers. Font is of Polyphant stone. In church- yard is a granite slab to Ralph Honey, 1596. (Registers, 16 16.) Truro. — Church of St. Mary, rebuilt between 1504 and 15 18, consisted of chancel, nave, N. and S. aisles ; tower and spire, rebuilt in 1769, and good of their date, attained a height of 125 ft. Diocese of Cornwall was revived in 1 876 ; in following year Dr. Benson was consecrated its first bishop ; and in • 1880 foundation-stone of new cathedral was laid by f [ Edward VII., then Duke of Cornwall. The architect - was the late Mr. Pearson, R.A. This fine building," which is now complete, is 303 ft. in length, and the rt central tower and spire 217 ft. in height. The style is E.E., but it leaves something of a French impres- sion on the mind. The materials are in the main local, but the style is alien to the county ; dignified Perp., like the remnant of the destroyed church, would have been far more characteristic. An un- happy decision caused the cathedral to be erected in the midst of mean streets, which press it in on all sides, so that no decent view of its many architec- tural beauties can be obtained, save from house- tops, or from distant high ground. The condition of crowded-up French cathedrals has been pleaded in justification ; but the plea is amusingly futile, for