In his book "In Search of England", Mr H.V. Morton describes the church as follows, "as standing in a churchyard which is one of the little known glories of Cornwall. I would like to know of anywhere else you can find a churchyard more beautiful than this. There is hardly a level yard in it. You stand at the lych-gate and look down into green cup filled flowers, and arched by great trees. In the dip is the little church, its tower level with you as you stand above. The white gravestones rise up from ferns and flowers."
Much of the work has been done in the churchyard over the past 20 to 30 years. Most of the shrubs have been planted during this period and include the Strawberry Tree (Benthamia), Pittosporum, Chilian Myrtle, Fan Palm (Chamaerops Excelsa), varieties of Bamboos, Embothrium (Fir Bush from Chile),Rododendrons, Azaleas, Brooms, Camellias, Escallonias, Cestrum, Deutzias, Drimys, Eupatorium, Fuchias, Griselinia, a large number of Hydrangeas, Hypericum, a Tulip tree, Laburnam, Magnolia, Ribes, Skimmias, Tricuspidaria (from Chile), Berberis, Olearia and others.
Undoubtedly St Just Church, nestling, as it does, on the edge of the creek, with rising banks on the landward side amid a wealth of sub-tropical foliage, is chiefly remarkable for its position and exquisite surroundings.
550 A.D -The church was founded in honour of St Just, one of the many Celtic missionaries who preached the Gospel, and whose Churchmanship of a pure primitive order was ruled, first and formost, by a steadfast appeal to Scriptural standards. Some antiquarians consider the name "St Just" is derived from Jestyn, son of Geraint of Anglesey, Gerrans being the modern form of the name; others St Gerrans is the same person as Gerennius, King of Cornwall in the Sixth Century.
For some 400 years after its foundation, the church was served by Celtic clergy from the adjacent cell of Lanzeague, until Roseland was taken from the Celtic Church by the Saxon Bishops of Cornwall, Crediton and Exeter.
1140-Robert Bishop of Exeter, gave St Just Church to the Canons of PLympton Priory, and the church was served by their vicars.
1190-The Patronage was recovered from the Priory by John le Sor, Lord of Tolverne, who successfully disputed the grant, and arranged that a yearly sum of 13s 4d, should be paid out of the Benefice to the Priory. This sum is still paid by the Rectors of St Just to the successors in title of the last Prior, who is represented today by the executors of the late Major G.H Johnstone, of Trewithian, the patrons of the living.
1261-The church was consecrated by Walter, Bishop of Exeter. The Chancel with its double piscina is of this date.
15th Century.
The rest of the building is of this period subject to subsequent restorations. Mostley 1951 to 1958
In the chancel is a brass portrait of a priest.
A font
One only remaining miserere worked into the lectern showing a winged loin.
1538- the parish registers date from this year.
1684 - Is the date applied to the hanging of the oldest bell, bearing the names of the two church wardens, a small three quartered figure of Charles II, and two copper coins of his reign cast on the bell.
1733 -July 23rd Every year since this date and for a thousand years the rector receives the sum of 10 shillings (50p of today) for preaching a funeral sermon on December 27th each year under the will of John Randall Esq. who died on this date.
St Just is the mother church of St Mawes, an ancient and erstwhile fishing town, which at one time returned two members of parliament. At St Mawes was the chapel of St Mawes or St Mandutus, and near it , his holy well and stone "chair." The saints name appears under various forms, but he seems to have been a missionary from Wales who settled down as a hermit, and the fame of his sanctity drew many persons to visit him. Ultimately he is said to have departed to St Malo, but his hermitage continued to evoke such reverence that it was transformed into a chapel. Of this chapel there are now no remains.
There is a tradition that Jesus came to Cornwall with Joseph of Arimathaea, that he landed at St Just in Roseland by boat in St Just Creek. A stone with strange markings is pointed out as that on which he stepped.
Legend true or not nobody can leave this place without being uplifted by its tranquillity and beauty.