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Cornwall Morganeering Copyright

 

Saint Neot Church

 

Although St. Neot is not on The Saints Way, if you have a car it is is well worth visiting, being only 20 miles from Fowey or 13 miles from Lanivet. Only two parish churches in Britain have "full sets" of medieval stained glass windows designed for them. They are at Fairford, Gloucestershire and St. Neot. Unlike the glass at Fairford which is a consistent theme, the famous glass of St. Neot was put in at different stages and paid for by different groups of people. The earliest three windows date from around 1480 when the church was built, and illustrate the Creation and the stories of Adam, Noah and St. George. Then the local gentry added more glass and after the north aisle was built, around 1525, glass was given by local parishioner as can be seen by the dates 1528 and 1539 in the windows. So the whole church was glazed in the space of fifty years or so. Although there has been considerable Victorian restoration, the visitor can see the glass as a medieval parishioner would some 450 years ago.

To the "pilgrim" the Tubbe window is of particular interest. It is made up of fragments some of which were taken from the east window of the chancel. The first panel shows St. Paul with the sword of his martyrdom. Then comes St. Peter with the key and book. Next is Christ in Majesty holding the orb and scepter of sovereignty - a modern copy of a panel in the east window, and finally St. Neot as a pilgrim, although the scallop shell in the hat, the pilgrim's staff and the water bottle suggest that this may be St. James. Whichever figure it is, the fact that he has his back to Christ suggests that the panel is not in its original place. The rest of the window, including the coats of arms are Victorian replacements

 

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St Neot Church

 

 

 

St Neot, or St James?