500-St Materiana who has been identified with St Madryn, a princess of Gwent, who according to tradition evangelised these parts. Whose other chief shrine lay at Minster a few miles away to the east, where her relics were preserved until the reformation which swept all these things away.
It would seem likely therefore that the present church was built on the site of an oratory served in Celtic days by the monks of Minster and later replaced by a Saxon- style building.
1080 to 1150-The church was built almost entirely as you can see it today, in its cruciform shape of nave chancel and transepts.
Built in the time of the first Norman Earls of Cornwall Robert of Mortain and his son William, who held Tintagle with other lands of the earldom, and built their castle at Bossiney. They were followed by Earl Reginald, a son of Henry I, who seems to have built the first castle onthe island and probably finished building the church.
1080-The primitive Norman doorway is considered to be the oldest part of the building and shows signs of Saxon influence. Some experts have held that much of the existing stonework of the north wall is part of an earlier church incorporated in the Norman building .
The south porch doorway is an example of simple Norman carving. The porch itself seems a late rebuilding of a 13th century porch.
The Font is also Norman and is of somewhat unskilled workmanship. Between the rudely carved heads at the four corners are serpents, their heads and tails curved upwards representing the evil spirit expelled by grace.
St Julitta's Font The Norman font-bowl by the south wall is believed to have been brought from St Julittas chapel at the castle.
1292-The memorial stone lying on the South side of the central space bears no inscription but is evidently that of a priest. It is of the time of Edward I. It is of unusual length and has a beautiful-carved foliated cross.
The canopied Recess on the south side of the chancel has always been known as the founders Tomb but as it is of 14th century date, it certainly cannot be the tomb of the original founder. (Founder in this instance may mean benefactor). The sepulchral slab is carved with a cross shaft, the top of which is missing.
Excavations in 1940 brought to light a crypt underneath the floor containing a number of burials.
The Reredos is made up of part of old bench ends mostly from the nave (but some brought from St Teath). They date from the 15th century. The carvings show emblems of the Passion spear and sponge, nails, whipping post and scourges. There are also sacred monograms, while others bear coats of arms, including the chevonals of the ancient and illustrious family of the Archeknes, who were lords of the manor of Trebarwith. Perhaps it was John Archdekne (born in 1465) or his sister Joanna (died in 1509), both of whom held Trebarwith, who presented these benches to the parish church.
Roman Stone.
The stone placed against the west wall had been used as a coffin rest and a sharpener of reap- hooks at the lower church stile till 1888 when rough lettering thrown into relief by the setting sun was noticed and its importance realised. The lettering deciphered as IMP C G VAL LIC LICIN and thus preserves (with a slight error) the name of the Roman Emperor Caius Flavius Valerius Licinianus Licinius one of the several rival emperors who collided with the Emperor Contantine and was put to death by him in 324 AD. It is usually referred to as the Roman milestone but may have well been a sign of Roman authority set up near the Roman camp-site on the cliff nearby. Another Roman stone bearing the names of the Emperors Gallus and Volusianus (251-253 A.D) is to be seen at Trethevy in the parish.
The West Window.
Contains the history of Tintagle in brief. Here are the heraldic shields of the Abbey of Fontevrault and St George's Chapel Windsor, our two patrons. The diocese of Exeter, Bodmin Priory and the diocese of Truro. Robert of Mortain first earl, the seal of Bossiney and Richard Earl of Cornwall. Archdeknes of Trebarwith, Wades of Trethevy.