Holy Trinity Church, St Austell

The church was originally dedicated to St Austol, a Breton saint associated with St Meven, but is now dedicated to the Holy Trinity. By 1150 it had been appropriated to the Priory of Tywardreath by the Cardinhams, a situation which continued until 1535. There was originally a Norman church here, of which some remains may be seen. The present church is of the 15th century and is large because the mediaeval parish was also a large one: the tower is impressive. All four outside walls bear sculptural groups in carved niches: the Twelve Apostles in three groups on the north, east and south; the Holy Trinity above the Annunciation and below that the Risen Christ between two saints on the west. The tower can be dated to between 1478 and 1487 by the arms of Bishop Peter Courtenay, and the walls are faced in Pentewan stone.[2] The tower and other parts of the church have an interior lining of granite.[3] On the south side of the church, a formerly separate chantry was incorporated into the church when it was extended.

The church was restored in 1872 by George Edmund Street.[1]

The church is in a joint parish with

• St Levan’s Church, Porthpean
• All Saints’ Church, Pentewan

The organ was built by Henry Bryceson and Brothers in 1880[4] at a cost of £600. It was later modified by Hele & Co in 1914 and Maurice Eglinton in 1973. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[5]