The church is situated in a dell amongst the high cliffs of the North Cornish Coast that look over the ever-surging sea- High Cliff to the south west towering over "The Haven" is 730 ft high and the tallest in Britain.
This secluded isolated spot so solitary for a parish church is because its origins go back to the years of the Celtic Church. Sometime in the mid 7th Century a Celtic Monk (hermit) arrived here, on foot or by boat, and chose our site for its solitude and its ready supply of water.
The locals must have been very quickly attracted to the "Holy Man" and he in due time taught them the Christian message and baptised them in his source of water which became known as "The Holy Well" so the site was established as the Holy Place in the locality. A stone cross set up close by & a tiny wooden hut for the priest or monk to live in. The services would be held in the open air.
On the right hand –side of the path that leads to the church the green drops away steeply. A careful look down and across, or a jaunt over the grass will reveal an old well – its is not so long ago the water from here was still on domestic use – however this is the spot or very close to it where the Holy Well of St Gennys was located. Here from the 600’s people have been baptised.
926 – After King Athelstan’s final conquest of Cornwall, it is almost certain a small Saxon church was built on this site and it is possible at this point the dedication to St Genesius probably originates.
12th Century – Much of the existing church comes from this period. Built to replace the earlier Saxon structure. The two lower stages of the tower, and the south, east and north walls of the Chancel contain surviving work of the Norman builders. This Norman church must of occupied the area of the present Chancel, Nave and Tower there may have been North and South trancepts to form a cruciform shape but later additions will of swallowed them up.
The bowl of the font and Holy water stoup are carved from Tintagel Greenstone and date from this period.
15th Century – The North Aisle was the first addition with the construction of beautiful arcade in polyphant Stone with rich carving which separates the Nave from the North Aisle.
The South Aisle and South porch were later added together with the Western most Arch of the Northern Aisle. The pillars used for this work are of granite and very like the pillars in the other three churches of the benefice.
17th Century –is the date of the Church Chest.
1871-At the Victorian restoration the alter was elevated, you can see by how much by the depth of the priests door. Pine pews replaced the old oak bench ends (of which only two remain as a Litany Desk in St Mary’s chapel).
1900- the addition of the Church Organ now very much filling the chapel to St Gregory.
Note
On the South Wall there is a slate memorial to an officer of the Parliament in the Civil War, Captain Braddon, MP, who lies in the chancel, having been forgiven or overlooked at the restoration, so that he lived until the century’s end.
On the triangular section of green just outside the south porch can be found another very old tombstone. It is in memory of Benet Mill of Treworgie who died in 1593. If you look very careful it is still possible to read the inscription.
Amongest other interesting memorials in the churchyard can be found one to the crew of a Swedish Brigantine "William" and others to sailors from S.S "City of Vienna & the barque "Capricorna".
The East End of the North Aisle is the side chapel dedicated to St Gregory who was the Patron Saint of the Manorial Chapel of Crackington Manor and was situated at Hill on the south side of the parish.
The South Aisle chapel is dedicated to St Mary. The chief features of the chapel are the stained glass and tablets that honour and bear witness to all those who did their duty in the two World Wars.