Dimilioc represents a smaller hillfort inland 20 miles south of Tintagel now occupied by the parish church of St Dennis - it is within an estate listed as Dimelihoc in the Doomsday Book.
King Arther, king of the Britons took refuge in the South west from the Angles, a Turkonic race who invaded Britain during the 5th century. Demelihoc was a secondary fortress of Gorlios, King of Cornwall. We assume Dimelhoc was a dinas of dennis on which the church is built. During the fight with Arther, Gorlois put his wife Igeme in his strongest fort. Castle an Dinas, and he commanded Demelihoc hoping that he would survive. He was slain and his wife captured. She afterwards married Uther of round table fame.
Domellick Farm.
This is the modern name for the estate of Domelihoc which was recorded in the doomsday book.
Carsella
This is also mentioned in the doomsday book as Karsalan. It originated as a fortress, the only other Caer or Kar mentioned being Carworgie in St Columb Major Parish. Carsella protected the dinas in the south, its most vulnerable point. Charles Henderson found traces of a very ancient village dating back to between 100 B.C and 100 A.D Carsella farm house is the oldest house in St Dennis almost 500 years old.
The Doomsday records that Carsella was a Manor under the same Baron as Domelihoc. The Count of Martair.
Of the early history of the church, very little can be ascertained, as the manuscripts, (if any) appear to be lost.
Note
The stone cross standing in the churchyard is of great antiquity. It appears to have Clepshydra or hour glasses on the shaft, and there could be an inscription on the pedestal, which might be revealed if the earth were taken away.
1087-Christian building on this site entered in the Doomsday as Landinas or Landiner. St Denys Church, Temple or Chapel .
The Norman's built a Church here, the present Tower dates from the 13th century. this was built in two stages, with stump pinnacles, height 55 feet.
The church appears to have been originally a chantry chapel, and held by respective family's of Cornwall, Hendowers or Tregarthin's of Courtnin Brannell, who afterwards appropriated it, together with the church of St Steven's to the rector of St Michael Caerhays.
1167- The second bell was installed in the tower showing this date. The crests on the second bell are Fleur- de -lys, shield with cross keys and the emblems of corn, wine, oil and fruit. the second shield nears probably a cross-bow. This was probably given by the Gauer-Y-Gan family who came to this country with William the Conqueror, and settled to the north of this parish, the manor bears the family name to this day. The Gauer-y-gans appear to have inherited the manor called after them up to the middle of the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
1176-There is a Chalice of this date bearing initials I.W.
1509 to 1547- In the reign of Henry VIII. St Denys was the only parish in Cornwall with the prefix saint.
1521-The name St Denys appears on Wolsey's inquisition into the Benefices in Cornwall, at which time it is wholly appropriated or inappropriate, together with St Steven's to the rector of Caerhayes and consolidated into it.
1535-There is an entry in the Public Records Office Westminster which reads "sum collected for aid and maintenance of Christian People against the Turk January 11th 1535 Henry 8th St Denys. 13 pence"
1558 to 1603- In the reign of Queen Elizabeth. John Arundle of Lanherne endowed the church with 10 acres of land, situated within the manor of Enniscaven, To provide for maintenance of the fabric of the church in lieu of church Rates.
1612-Earlist date registered at Exeter.
1651-The treble bell bears this date and initials B.P.
Note.
With St Steven's- in- Brannwell and St Michael Caerhayes, may claim a share of the honour of Robert Dunkin, who was ejected in the interregnum and restored with the monarchy and who has acquired celebrity by entering the field as Controversialist with the great John Milton.
1664-According to Hals "the historian" a shower of blood fell upon the stones covering about an acre of ground, drops about the size of a shilling could be seen 20 years after. After this shower of blood, broke out the plague of London, the Ditch and the French wars and the burning of the City of London.
1687-Earliest date of parish registers, these are in the County archives at Truro.
The registers were shamefully abused, leaves appear to have been cut out. From 1760 to 1812 there were no marriage entries extant. The old vellum book sadly scrawled over. Under the Baptismal entries for 1795, I find John Varcoe, his hand and pen, God bless King George and all his men, and kill thou, pen, Amen in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost, hold in elbow, set for to the big. When this you see, remember me, and keepin your mind, and be not like the withercock, change with every wind. The Patron Saint, St Denis, or Dionysis, the Areopagite, president of Athens in Greece, whos name Dionissus, in Latin has a Greek original viz., from Dionusos Bucchus vini inventor; grod excitet, memtem. The fable runs that this Saint having walked from Montmarte, where the sentence of decapitation were executed, the place since denominated from him, with his head under his arm.
Earliest date Registered at Bodmin.
Note
The patronage became vested in the Pitt family by purchase, by governor Pitt, grandfather of Lord Chatham, from the widow of Lord Charles Moham, killed in a dual in 1712.
1718-St Steven's and St Denys were daughter churches of St Michael -Caerhayes.
1719-Sutton was the first incumbent presented by Mr Pitt.
1738-The third or tenor bell contains the names of the church wardens as follows; John Varcoe, (this could be the same John Varcoe mentioned the text regarding the Parish Register 1687) Abraham Grigg, I.P A H 14cwt. This bell is to have been east at the foot of the hill leading to the church.
1804-The second Lord Camelford was shot in a dual by Captain Best, the patronage passed to his sister and sole heiress.
1847-The church was rebuilt and prior to this consisted of two aisles and a north transept.
1850-A Chronicle of this year stated that the arcade of the former church was deposited in the corner of a field at Nanpean. It was purchased in 1847 by the Lord of the Manor.
Of the church today little can be said in its favour, previous to the year 1847, however, the old church appears to have become very dilapidated and the churchwardens of the period thought it necessary to renovate it by removing the arcades and stone windows, also the north transept, together with the old font, which is said to have been of rare antiquity, thus forming an edifice into the building of ultr-puritian type of no architectural beauty whatever.
A complete list of clergy who served the parish cannot be given owing to defects in the registers. However as far as possible this is a list for the combined parishes.
1644-Archer.
1676-Tanner
1704-Hawkins.
1719-Rundle and Parnall.
1719-Sutton.
1720-Stuart.
1771-Leach.
1773-Foster who was incumbent of Boconnoc, Braddock, St Michael Caerhays. ST Steven's and St Deyns.
Mrs Foster resided at Boconnoc, and was a personal friend of the first Lord Camelford.
1830-Thomas J Furley served the two parishes of St Steven's and St Dennis for a magnificent stipend of
£50 per annum and died without preferment.
1851-C J Kemp.son the Rector late Vicar of Linkinhorne. Richard Tyacke now Vicar of Pdstow, Henry Overend,
John Creser, late Vicar of Colan. James Kendall late Vicar of Langetlos- by Fowey, Henry Sweeting, Charles
Rawlings, Joan Crossley up to 1852, when Caerhays St Stevens and St Denys were separate Incumbencies.