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Probus Church is founded on what may be one of the earliest Christian sites in the UK, possibly dating back to 4th Century.
Probus Church tower has got to be one of the gems of granite carved work. It has not only pinnacles rising on the 4 corners but also between them on each face having 4 majors and 4 minors all with attached pilasters, crocheted pinnacles and dressed work rising off a string course with grotesques carved from below. The stonework is exquisite and is heavily covered in lichen
The tower is the most extraordinary piece of granite carving of immense skill and endurance. It has very slender and quite deep buttresses on the corner to support the lofty structure above with its carved string courses, niches with crocheted canopies and pierced upper bell chamber. We are proud of our church building and the tower is the tallest in Cornwall!
As the church family here in Probus we want to make sure the building we use is still here for many years to come for everyone in the community to use and benefit from.
Our current focused fundraising has allowed the commissioning of work that will hopefully improve the very damp south-west gable near our cafe area by removing the failed and inappropriate cement render and externally repointing with breathable lime. The contractor will also reduce the ground level and create a new land drain around this whole area to allow the wall to eventually dry out.
There are several areas of the church walls that many years ago were rendered in cement which is inappropriate for a building such as ours and traps moisture once the cement inevitably cracks.
We hope to be able to improve the dampness in the north walls soon by also improving the drainage around the base of the wall and again removing some failed cement render and replacing with lime pointing. The north elevation also struggles with excess rainwater missing the undersized and poorly placed guttering and we are hoping to be able to afford to improve this soon.
The two main roof valleys are in particular need of full renovation as the lead is now old, brittle and regularly cracks and many of the slates are fragile and insecurely fixed. We have recently had many lead cracks properly welded on the north valley and we hope this is a good temporary measure that will reduce water ingress substantially but we know this is not a permanent solution.
In the start of 2024 we are hoping to improve the internal paint damage caused by the leaking north valley now that the lead is more sealed.
Please think about how you may be able to help us raise funds, find grants, offer skills and your time to repair and maintain the church for future generations.
Even modest regular donations can make a massive difference – thank you for your support.
St Probus & St Grace Parish Church 