The Lanhydrock estate, near Bodmin dates back to 1621 owned by Richard Robartes, a famous family in Cornwall, and the first Baron-Robartes. His son John built the quadrangular mansion on the site from 1634-1651. However the church dates much further back - to 1450. It's part of the medieval foundation of the estate once farmed by the Priors of St Petrocs in Bodmin. This meant they had somewhere to pray and worship while carrying out their daily farming duties. Click on the links below to enjoy photos of the church, and an audio feature with Naomi Rowe: The Church is open to the public whenever the stately home is and has its own dedicated bell-ringers on site. Sunday services are taken every Sunday by people from the Bodmin Team Ministry.
 | | Lanhydrock's church |
A main focal point of the church is a carving of the Last Supper in Intricated Detail above the alter. Surrounded by marble, the carving is made from white alabasta and is thought to be more unusual. It was part of the 1888 restoration of the Church. The Robartes family was key to the area during the seventeenth century and even used a local orphanage to get staff for the house and estate. The church, which is adjacent to the house, has a service every Sunday at 9.45am. One of the most fascinating and complete late 19th-century houses in England, Lanhydrock is full of period atmosphere. Although the gatehouse and north wing (with magnificent 32yd-long gallery with plaster ceiling) survive from the 17th century, the rest of the house was rebuilt following a disastrous fire in 1881. The church and house are set in an estate of 364 hectares (900 acres) of woods and parkland running down to the River Fowey, with numerous footpaths. | 
