Page:County Churches of Cornwall.djvu/43

 INTRODUCTION 21 had hence escaped the impoverishment which in- evitably accompanies warfare. There is also an unusual and striking amount of similarity in the church work of this date throughout the county. Two causes would contribute to this : first, the over- weening influence of the Duchy of Cornwall, which was then at its height, and brought about more of a centralising spirit than prevailed in ordinary shires ; and, secondly, the isolated position and great extent of sea-board which put a severe check on the general currents of diversified outside influences. The use of granite, so little adapted for light or lofty treat- ment, as well as climatic considerations, caused the results to differ materially from similar activity in other parts of England. The exterior of the great majority of Cornish churches is characterised by a high W. tower, which looks all the loftier from the lowness of the body of the church. There is an almost complete absence of clerestory; the only churches where clerestories are to be found are those of Callington, Fowey, St. Germans, and Lostwithiel. An interior peculiarity is the absence of CHANCEL ARCHES ; they are entirely lacking in every 15th cent, church from the Tamar to the Land's End. There is a chancel arch remaining at Towednack, but it is of the 13th cent. Their place was taken by elaborate screens. The granite PIERS of the four-centred arches of the arcades of this period are marvellously alike in about 90 per cent, of the Cornish churches; they