Sunday, 29 July 2018

St Materiana's Church, Tintagel

St Materiana's Church, Tintagel the 11th century church

 

Little is known of Materiana, but she may equate to Madryn, a 5th century Princess of Gwent who preached in north Cornwall around the year AD 500. Tintagel church is thought to have been founded as a daughter church of nearby Minster, the only other British church dedicated to Materiana. The first church was an oratory served by monks from Minster, where the saint is said to have been buried. The oratory was replaced by a Saxon stone church and the site was used heavily as a Christian graveyard over the years 500-700.
There was an early 6th century church on the clifftops, but the present building dates to the late 11th century, though it incorporates earlier Saxon features. The tower is several centuries later, perhaps a product of the 13th century. The north and south doorways are Norman, while the north porch is 14th century. The north doorway iron hinges are thought to be 12th century originals








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