Strangers to Falmouth often ask why our parish church is dedicated to King Charles I. The answer of course the Cornwall, and Falmouth in particular, took a strong stand on the Royalist side during the Civil War. This was recognised by Charles I in his famous letter (Carolus Rex to the Inhabitants of Cornwall), a copy of which is to be found in every contemporary church in Cornwall. Yet this letter, written from the Kings camp at Sudeley in 1642, could not refer to Cornwall's last desperate effort which was yet to come, bringing Falmouth and Pendennis Castle into the forefront of the battle.
In July 1644 Charles I's Queen, Henrietta Marie- a fugitive from Cromwell's army-arrived at Pendennis Castle from Exeter, where she had perforce left her two weeks old baby daughter. Staying overnight, she fled to France. Eighteen months later the Castle was also to shelter Prince Charles, later King Charles II, who similarly took refuge there before crossing to France. Shortly afterwards Sir Ralph Hopton surrendered Cornwall to the Parliamentary Forces, thus virtually ending the Civil War, except for the tenacity of the garrison at Pendennis Castle. this gallant band of Royalists held out against a siege from March 7th to August 17,1646, when starvation alone compelled them to surrender this last stronghold to stand fast for King Charles.
After the Restoration in 1660 Charles II was not slow to make public acknowledgement of his appreciation of the loyalty of his Cornish Subjects, first by granting the Charter of Falmouth in 1661, and next by sponsoring the building of a Parish Church dedicated to the memory of his martyred father. In all this he was prompted and guided by Sir Peter Killigrew (died 1667), chief member of a prominent local family, whose seat was the ancient Manor of Arwenack.
It is impossible to think about the development of Falmouth, town and church, without remembering Sir Peter Killigrew. He had been in constant touch with Charles I throughout the perils of the Civil War, and tradition says that he nearly effected the escape of the King from the gallows. Whatever the truth of that remained to him after the restoration: it was he who obtained Falmouths Charter and name; provided from his own estate for sites of the church, churchyard and rectory; brought about the building of the parish Church and the separation of the parish from Budock and St Gluvias (Penryn), and planned and built the Custom House Quay. he died as a result of an accident on the way to Exeter in 1667. There is no memorial in the church to him, but his son-the second Sir Peter Killigrew- is buried under the Sanctuary.
Like his father, the second Sir Peter Killigrew was very active in improving Falmouth. It was in his time that the town became a packet Station. He was the last male in the killigrew family: his only son and heir, George, was killed in a duel in early life and had no male heirs. Georges sister Anne married Captain Martin Lester, who took the name Killigrew and with it seemed to take upon himself also that keen interest in the town and the parish Church so typical of his wife's family. He wrote the killigrew Manuscript which gives an authentic record of the Killigrew family and of the early and stormy history of Falmouth.
The Church
It must be remembered that in the early 1600's there were no more than eight houses in Falmouth, and by 1665 this number had increased to only 200. Even as late as 1721 no house lay to the west of Market Street and no road was made up the moor. Sir Peter Killigrew in 1660 planned his church to be the centre of what he envisaged as a growing town, and this has come about in our churches three hundred years of history, with Falmouths building estates now reaching out towards the parish of Budock.
The foundation of this church was laid on August 29th 1662, and the building was finished on February 21st, 1664 having taken only 18 months to complete. On August 22nd, 1665, the church was consecrated by Dr Seth Ward, Lord Bishop of Exeter.
Architecture.
The architectural style of this church has seen a great deal of change, reconstruction and addition. Today the church has been described as "the last expression of Gothic combined with Renaissance in Cornwall.....an effort to combine Pointed Mediaeval with Classical details, joining the two styles."
Structure.
In its three hundred years the church has seen a great deal of change, reconstruction and addition. Today the church is ninety feet long and sixty-six feet wide. Originally it had been built the form of a cross about sixty-six feet long. Of the church itself, the present North and South walls, the double tiers of late gothic windows, and three of the four granite columns are original. The fourth granite column, nearest the lectern, became unsafe in 1968, and was then completely replaced at the same time as the east wall of the Sanctuary which also had to be rebuilt.
In 1684 the church was lengthened and the chancel added. Between 1686 and 1703 galleries were added to the West, North and South sides, and an organ placed in the west end. In view of the growing population of the Borough, the church was lengthened again by nearly a third in 1813.
In 1896 very considerable alterations were made. The church was completely gutted, the entire roofs were re-made and re-aligned, the flooring was re-laid, all the galleries were removed and the west gallery built (with timbers, as we know now, of inadequate strength which had to be replaced with steel joists in 1958). Marble columns with alabaster capitals were added in the east end.
The work of reconstruction was continued in the next few years: a new organ chamber was built, the Sanctuary was transformed, and the side chapels added. the beautiful parclose screen, which forms the base of the wrought iron chancel screen was brought from Penzance. It is made of fine granite, exceptionally rich in spar. It had originally served as the altar rails of St Pauls Church Penzance, and during drastic alterations and enlargements there, had been thrown over a hedge into a field where it lay until rescued and brought to Falmouth. It was later extended to enclose both side chapels.
The Sanctuary was separated from both side chapels by marble dwarf walls in keeping with the two Devonshire marble columns, and later these walls were surmounted by handsome wrought iron screens, thus enclosing the Sanctuary. These additions, together with the rich furnishing of carpets and curtains, have combined to give the east end its present remarkably beautiful appearance.
The Tower.
In 1687 the tower was built, and was added to in 1738. It was heightened in 1800 to take the clock.
The Pulpit.
The fine ornamental carving round the pulpit consists of several distinct pieces, purchased mostly on the Continent by the reverend W.J Coope. It is a mixture of English 16th century vine carving and German figure carving, probably 17th century. The figures include four angels, two preaching angels and a bust of the Madonna. The front panel was probably one of the stations of the cross in some continental chapel. The mahogany pedestal belonged to the former pulpit.
The Font.
The hexagonal font and cover are exceptionally fine. The font is marble; the cover and the pedestal are both made from very hard wood and decorated with acanthus and oak leaves. it will be noticed that this work is identical with that on the dated Credence Table in the Sanctuary (1759). A note in the parish register confirms this date, and states that £56 was spent on various furnishings, including a font and cover.
Portrait of King Charles.
A half length portrait in oils of King Charles I, attributed to Lely, hangs on the South wall. This is probably the only church in Britain to posses an authentic portrait of its patron. It was presented to the church in 1913 by the Royalist Society.