St Mewan is today no more than a hamlet consisting of a large primary school, the old Rectory and the New Rectory and the Church which bears the name of its patron saint.
In Domesday times Mewan (then known as Mevenus and later in Brittany as Me'en) was a far more highly esteemed saint than St Austol (who was possible his godson). Mewan was probably born in the 6th Century in Gwent (South Wales) and having come to St Mewan travelled on later to Brittany where he also established a church.
The present church dates back to Norman times and was probably cruciform in shape and constructed in local granite. Most of the present building was contracted in the 15th Century. In 1875 the church suffered a typically Victorian style restoration and the wagon roof was replaced by the present structure.
The present church serves the villages of Trewoon, Polgooth, Trelowth and Sticker.(see details on Mission Church below). It is a lively Parish Church which serves all the parish and has a full programme of activities for young and old There are also very strong links with the four Methodist Churches in the parish.
Interesting features include the tower which appears to have stopped short of its intended height through lack of funds The legend says that the Devil disapproved of the project so he threw down the top stones until the builders gave up! The tower has 6 bells and is in regular use.
Another interesting feature of the Church is the Font which dates from the 14th Century and stands on an earlier Norman base. Also the pew ends in the Sanctury have carvings on them of the gospel evangelists.
The following extract is from the Parochial History of Cornwall
"The church, which is supposed to be about 600 years old, is dedicated to S. Mewanus; it comprises a channel, nave, south aisle, and north transept. The inner arch of the chancel window is supported on shafts with craved heads for capitals. There is a piscina in the channel, in the north wall of which there is a good strained glass window, representing Christ blessing little Children. 'In November, 1863, the beatyful stained of the north chancel was maliciously broken from the outside; a reward of 20 pounds was offered by the rector for the discovery of the culpit."
St Mewan Church is open some afternoons during and when volunteers are available but the key can be obtained from the Rectory at most other times. A phone call before hand would ensure that someone was available to open up. (01726-72679)
Sunday Services (see notice board in porch for full details)
8am Holy Communion (BCP);
10am Morning Worship:
6pm Evening Worship
The old rectory - built in 1680 - and the church hall are both Grade II listed buildings. However the current incumbent the Rev. Marion Barrett lives in a modern vicarage next to the earlier one.
The church is currently trying to raise funds to update the church hall to current day standards.
The Old Rectory Church hall & Sunday School
St. Mark's Church, Sticker - "a chapel of ease" for the parish church at St. Mewan
Within the parish the village of Sticker grew from local mining. In 1785, Sticker was described as "a new place" and it seems that the village began as a settlement for workers in the Great Hewas Mine on its western outskirts. Great Hewas was known to have been worked in the eighteenth century, a 45-inch Boulton & Watt pumping engine being installed in the 1790s. By the nineteenth century, the mine was employing over 250 people, producing not only tin, but copper, lead, and some silver. Two smaller mines to the west, Ventonwyn and Hewas Water, worked alongside Great Hewas. The last of these mines ceased production in 1926, though the chimney of Ventonwyn engine house is still a local landmark. An Anglican church was designed by the architect George Edmund Street in 1848/49, but was presumably never built. The current St Mark's Mission Church was designed by James Piers St Aubyn and opened in 1877.
St. Mark's Mission Church - Sticker
