St Germanus - the saint of the church
There was almost certainly a Celtic Fort or settlement near by at Kilgear (known now as Colgear) containing the word Caer meaning fort. There is a chapel to the south part of the parish of St Germans a place now called St Winnols. The adjacent farm is called Eglaroose in Cornish Eglos-Rose meaning the chapel on the promontory showing that in Celtic times St Winwallo's chapel was an independent church, the foundation probably older than that of St Germans. Although this chapel was maintained as a chapel of ease up to the Reformation not a stone now remains.
It is generally accepted that St Germans takes its name from St Germanus, who was Bishop of Auxerre he lived from 380 to 448.
Following the English Conquest a Cornish Bishopric was formed at St Germans and a group of secular canons as set up in the cathedral.
1180-Priory of Augustinian Canons established.
1185-or before the West Front between the two towers commenced. This great Norman doorway built of stone from the Tartan Down quarries at Landrake four miles away, which belonged to the Priory.
The Font is of 13th century origin.
1200-The towers of Transition Norman Work were built.
1261-Consecrated by Bishop Bronscombe.
1358-It appears the Sir Nicholas Tamorze, Knight, intervened on behalf of the Cannons and obtained from the Abbot of St Germans convent in Auxerre two sacred relics, they consisted of one small bone of St Germans arm and part of the shroud in which his body rested.
1539-After the departure of the Prior and the Augustinian Canons in this year the choir fell into disuse and ruin and was used as a brew house.
The years after the Reformation saw other changes to the church : there was also destruction, and the chapel dedicated to St Germanus in which his relics had been placed was to suffer much at the hands of the Elizabethan reformers. the exquisite carvings of the noches, shrine and sedilla were hacked to pieces, principally to make room for the Royal Arms and a huge monument to Edward Eliot, by Rysbraek. This Monument has now been removed to the north tower.
1540-The Kings agents having stripped the priory of everything of value, decided to sell it as a private residence, and John Champernowne, a Devon squire, obtained the lease of the Priory at a rent of £6 15s per annum.
1541-John Champernowne died and his widow purchased the estate from the crown for £434. She later remarried and made the estate over to her son, Henry Champernowne, of Modbury.
1564-Henry Champernowne sold the estate to John Eliot a gentleman of St Germans for the sum of £500. John Eliot had previously obtained the lease of Cuddenbeake Manor, the episcopal manor . While residing there he had the opportunity of viewing the Priory falling into ruin and soon after purchasing took up residence.
1573-We find the place styled Port-Eliot.
Most probably the member of the Eliot family who achieved the greatest fame was Sir John Eliot, who lived in the reigns of James I and Charles I. He purchased the parliamentary boroughs of St Germans. He began a great fight in Parliament against corruption, and the preservation of civil liberties. He was arrested twice, and in the reign of Charles I , after spending four years in the Tower, he died there, the King refused permission for him to be buried at St Germans.
During the 18th century the Priory buildings were remodelled as we see them today, and only on the cellars are traces to be found of the old monastic buildings.
1784-Edward Eliot was raised to the peerage.
1815-His son became the Earl of St Germans.
The Statue of St Anthony of Padua.
The wooden effigy of St Anthony in his Franciscan robe at the west end of the church is an interesting relic of former days. It was formerly kept at Port Eliot and is said to have belonged to the Priory. Its date is early sixteenth century.