St Agnes

• An illustrated History of St Agnes covering the years 1001 to 1999 has been written by Frank Carpenter, and is available from the St Agnes Museum.
• A more detailed description and history of the parish, entitled 'Friendly Retreat', has been written by M H Bizley and published by Troutbeck Press. ISBN 0 9523561 0 4. It also is available from the St Agnes Museum.

• A municipal cemetery of two acres was formed in 1876 which included two mortuary chapels. Stilefields Cemetery (which is behind the Museum) has an unconsecrated portion, (i.e. for non-conformists such as Methodists), on the lefthand side.
• Some transcriptions from Garden of Rest in St Agnes are available on the Cornish Cemeteries site.
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published Monumental Inscriptions for the Parish Church - 1365 entries.
• War Memorial. A photograph of the War Memorial is available on-line.
  • Also on the Cornwall's War History site with details
• A memorial on the St Agnes Wesleyan Chapel Mural Tablet has been transcribed from old-fashioned snapshots by Elaine Hamby. [References: A. Adherent, C.L. Class Leader, C.S. Circuit Steward, J.S.C. Junior Society Class, L.P. Local Preacher, M. Member of Church, M.C. Member of Choir, S.S.Sup. Sunday School Superintendent, S.S.S. Sunday School Scholar, S.S.T. Sunday School Teacher, S.S. Society Steward, M.T. Missionary Treasurer, T. Trustee]:

  James ANGWIN M. died at Goonown 1866 Kezia ANGWIN M. died at Goonown 1886 Thomas BARTLEY M. died at Goonbell 1890 Prudence A. BARTLEY M. died at Rosemundy Hill 1884 Rev. Thos. R. BARTLEY M. died at St. Helena, Calif. 1901 Rev. John BARTLEY M. died at Exeter 1938 Samuel BENNETTS T. & C.S. died at Truro 1889 Ann BENNETTS M. died at Truro 1900 Elizabeth J. OSBORNE M., S.S.T., & Organist died at Liskeard 1935 Richard H. BENNEY C.L., L.P. & S.S. Sup. died at Illogan Hway 1937 James BILLING C.L. died at Higher Bal 1873 Jane Agnes BILLING M. died at Higher Bal 1902 Thomas BLANKENSHIP M. & T. died at Truro 1864 William BUTSON M. & T. died at Goonown 1890 Richard DAVIES T. & L.P. died at Vicarage Road 1894 John DAVIES M. died at Goonbell 1873 John J. DELBRIDGE C.L. died at Peterville 1899 Sarah DELBRIDGE M. died at Vicarage Road 1909 Irvin Ashley DELBRIDGE S.S.S. aged 9 years died 1907 James EVANS A. died at Beacon House 1898 Ann EVANS A. died at Beacon House 1904 Mary HANCOCK M. & S.S.T. died at Vicarage Road 1908 Robert HANCOCK M. died at British Road 1888 Muriel Alberta HARPER J.S.C. & S.S.S. died at Churchtown 1912 Frank HENWOOD M. & M.C. died at Rosemundy 1910 John HIGGINS M. died at Goonlaze 1912 Mary Ann HIGGINS C.L. & S.S.T. died at Goonlaze 1914 James HOOPER C.L. died at Rosemundy 1895 Jane HOOPER M. died at Goonbell 1891 Joel Carter HOOPER T.C.L. & S.S.Sup. died at Rosemundy Hill 1915 Martha HOOPER M. died at Rosemundy Hill 1916 Janie HOOPER M. & M.C. died at Rosemundy Hill 1913 Nicholas LANGDON T. & L.P. died at Mingoose 1876 Mary LANGDON M. died at Truro 1903 Matthew LANYON C.L. died at Beacon 1887 James LETCHER M.& T. of Wheal Butson died 1915 Thomas LAWRY M.& S.S.S. died at Goonown 1907 William LUKE M.& S.S.S. died in London 1915 William Kent MITCHELL L.P.,C.L. & S.S.Sup. died at Goonown 1901 Alfred MITCHELL M.C. died at Michigan 1910 Lola MITCHELL J.S.C. & S.S.S. died at Water Lane 1911

  Rev. John NANCARROW M. died at Stockport 1907 Thomas Martin NINNIS T.C.S. & S.S.Sup. died at Churchtown 1890 Susan Martin NINNIS M. died in London 1911 Rev. Jabez OVERTON Resident Minister died at St. Agnes 1883 John James PROUT M. died at Brixham, Devon 1910 Ann PROUT M. died at Brixham, Devon 1910 Joseph PROUT M. died at Bridge Villa 1911M John REYNOLDS A. died at Goonown 1911 H.K. REYNOLDS M. & S.S.T. died at Goonown 1918 Josiah REYNOLDS M.C. of Goonown died 1911 Ths. Henry Lobb RICHARDS M. died at Water Lane 1913 Richard RICKARD T. & C.L. died at Vicarage Road 1870 James RICKARD C.L. died at Vicarage Road 1890 Jane Trezise RICKARD M. died at Wisconsin, U.S.A. 1886 Joseph ROBERTS T.C.L. & S.S.T. died at Goonown 1918 James ROBERTS M. & M.C. died at West Coast of Africa 1888 James ROGERS T.C.S. & S.S. Sup. died at Churchtown 1879 Hannah ROGERS M died at Churchtown 1881 Elisha ROWE M. & T. died at Churchtown 1872 William ROWE M. died at Churchtown (Goonown) 1857 Rachel ROWE M. died at Churchtown 1902 K.R. BREWER M. died in China 1886 Sarah Ann ROWE M. & S.S.T. died in Churchtown 1926 Thomas STRIBLEY L.P., C.L. & S.S.Sup. died at Churchtown 1885 Mary STRIBLEY M. died at Churchtown 1883 George Herbert STRIBLEY T. & S.S. died at Churchtown 1907 Harry STRIBLEY T.C.L.S.S. & S.S.Sup. died at Stenalees 1942 James TREGELLAS C.L. died at Churchtown 1884 James TREGELLAS C.L. died at Goonvrea 1903 Clara TREHAIR M. died in London 1882 James TREMEWAN M. & S.S.T. died at Penwinnick Villa 1899 John Ernest TREMEWAN S.S.T. died at Vicarage Road 1910 John WATERS M. died at Rosemundy Hill 1891 Mary Ann WATERS M. died at Rosemundy Hill 1893 Elizabeth HAWKINS M. & S.S.T. died at Ruanlanihorne 1925 William WATERS A. died at Johannesburg 1912 Henry WHITWORTH M.D. C.S. & M.T. died at Vicarage Road 1883 Fanny WHITWORTH M. died at Vicarage Road 1875 Fanny REMINGTON M. & S.S.T. died at Selby 1880 Samuel WILLIAMS M. died at British Road 1878 Eleanor WILLIAMS M. died at Rosemundy Hill 1911

  John WILLIAMS T.S.S. & M.C. died at Churchtown 1923 Nancy WILLIAMS M. died at Churchtown 1913 John M. WILLIAMS M. & S.S.T. died in Johannesburg 1931 Nannie P. WILLIAMS M.M.C. & S.S.T. died at Churchtown 1932 Henry WILLIAMS A. died at Goonown 1898 Mary WILLIAMS A. died at British Road 1916 Henry WILLIAMS M. & S.S.T. died in Colorado USA 1893 Jane WILLIAMS C.L. died at Vicarage Road 1902 James Thomas RILLSTONE S.S.T. & M.C. died at Goonown 1916 Ann DAVIES M. died at Goonbell 1917 Wm. WHITWORTH M.R.C.S.E. T. & M.T. died at Vicarage Rd. 1917 Edw. B. PELLEW M.R.C.S.L.R.C.P. A. died at St Agnes 1914 Catherine WHITWORTH M. & S.S.T. died at Vicarage Rd. 1917 Mark LUKE A. died at Goonown 1915 Philip H. REYNOLDS T.L.P. & C.L. died at Vicarage Rd. 1918 John LAWRY T.S. S.S.S. T. & M.C. died at Goonown 1917 Hannah BARKLE M. & S.S.T. died at Goonown 1922 Amelia TREMEWAN M. & S.S.T. died at Penwinnick Villas 1923 Elizabeth E. SMITH M. died at St Agnes 1924 James LAWRENCE M. & S.S.T. died at Vicarage Rd. 1926 Tom Silvester TREZISE T.S.S. C.L.& S.S.T. died at British Road 1927 John WILLIAMS T.L.P. C.L. & S.S.T. died at Newquay 1928 Alexandra TREMEWAN M. (1929) died at Bournemouth Rev. Charles RICKARD L.P. & M.C. died at Southsea 1924 Richard ENDEAN M. & S.S.T. died at Goonown 1895 Jane ENDEAN M. died at Goonown 1905 Henry HARRIS L.P. & C.L. died at Vicarage Road 1931 Thomas H. BLACKNEY T. & L.P. died at Rosemundy Hill 1934 Annie BLACKNEY M. & S.S.T. died at Helston 1948 James ANGWIN M.& T. died at Goonbell House 1934 Catherine ANGWIN M. died at Goonbell House 1937 James TREDINNICK T.S.S. C.L. & S.S.Sup. died at Mingoose 1926 Emily TREDINNICK M. died at Mingoose 1937 Ellen WILLIAMS M. & S.S.T. died at Plymouth 1937 Joseph RADCLIFFE Organist 1889-1892 died at Plymouth 1937 Edward James OATS C.L. & T. died at British Road 1937 Edmund Marks UGLOW S.S.Sup. C.L. & T. died at Vicarage Rd. 1939 Jane TREDINNICK M. died at Truro 1915 Frances TREDINNICK M. died at Mingoose 1930 Lieut. A.L. TRELOAR RN-VR M. & S.S.S. died at Penzance 1945 John ANGWIN T.& C.L. [indecipherable] died at Vicarage Rd 1946

Census information for this parish (1841 - 1901) is held in the Cornwall Record Office. The Cornwall Family History Society offers a census search service for its members.
Specific census information for this parish is available as follows:

• 1841. The 1841 Census of St Agnes (HO107/149) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Enumeration Districts 1 to 5.
  • Enumeration Districts 6 to 10.
  • Enumeration Districts 11 to 15.
• 1851.
  • The 1851 Census of St Agnes (HO107/1909), Enumeration Districts 2m, 2n, 2o, 2p, 2q and 2r, is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project.
  • Part of the 1851 Census of St Agnes is also available from the West-Penwith resources as part of the 1851 British Census 2% sample - Cornwall.
  • The New Zealand Society of Genealogists have compiled separate surname indexes of the 1851 Census for each Cornish registration district; St Agnes is listed in Volume 18. The booklets are available in Cornwall at the Cornwall Centre, (formerly known as the Cornish Studies Library), and is also available in the Cornwall Family History Society Library.
• 1861. The 1861 Census of St Agnes (RG9/1555) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Enumeration Districts 11 to 13.
  • Enumeration Districts 14 to 16.
• 1871. The 1871 Census of St Agnes is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • RG10/2276. Enumeration Districts 1 to 9.
  • RG10/2277. Enumeration Districts 11 to 13.
  • RG10/2278. Enumeration Districts 14 to 16.
• 1881. The 1881 Census of St Agnes is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • RG11/2308. Enumeration Districts 11 to 14.
  • RG11/2309. Enumeration Districts 15 and 16.
• 1891. The 1891 Census of St Agnes (RG12/1828) is available on-line from the Cornwall Online Census project as follows:
  • Enumeration Districts 1 to 7.
  • Enumeration Districts 8 to 12.
  • Enumeration Districts 13 to 14.

• Anglican. The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SW7250 and was dedicated to St Agnes the Virgin in 1327.
  St Agnes was originally part of the large Celtic monastery of Lanpiran, which was centred on Perranzabuloe. Although the date when the first church was built is lost in antiquity, it must have been long before 1331, as there is an account, in Bishop Grandisson's register, of that year, of a visitation to St. Agnes Church which was described as sadly neglected. Around the middle of the 13th century, a Chapel was allowed and from that time St Agnes was regarded as a Chapelry of Perranzabuloe. The need for a separate church community was recognised in 1482 and a second church was constructed in 1484; a separate priest, responsible to the vicar of Perranzabuloe, appointed to the living. The parish of St Agnes, although still continuing as a chapelry, became a separate ecclesiastical parish in 1653, during the Commonwealth period. So, from earliest times (until 1846) St. Agnes, while being the chief centre of population of the large parish of Perranzabloe, was but a chapelry to that parish. Various Bishops of Exeter tried to adjust the relations between the Church at Perran and the Chapel at St. Agnes, and in 1374 Bishop Brantyngham was compelled to interdict the latter, the inhabitants having refused to observe an arrangement made by him. A giant grievance was the lack of the right of burial, which was only obtained for St. Agnes by application to Bishop Courtenay in 1482. Hitherto the inhabitants of St. Agnes had had to attend the parish church at Perranzabloe. However, it was not until 1846 when St Agnes was constituted an independent ecclesiastical parish and the first Vicar was appointed replacing the previous curates.
  By 1846, the population had increased to such an extent that the church building was too small, and authority was given to pull down the old church and build a new one. This work started in 1848 and the the services in the new church began within a year. On 28 May 1851, the new building, consisting of a nave with north and south aisles was dedicated by the Bishop of Exeter. Only the lower stages of the old tower was incorporated into the new building.
  In 1931, when the floor was relaid, a wall was found that ran along the nave. Subsequent investigation showed that this was part of an oblong structure which had existed before the church building of 1484. In the south-west, bases of 15th cent. pillars were found confirming the early site of the first church.
  
  From THE WEST BRITON dated 6 June 1851: CONSECRATION OF NEW CHURCHES - SAINT AGNES. This parish church was consecrated for divine worship on Wednesday, the 28th ult., by the Bishop of Exeter. The church was raised on the site of the last church, and forms one of the best buildings of the kind in the West part of Cornwall. The material is of a beautiful description, the stones being generally raised in the immediate vicinity; they are of a light killas, with courses in different colours, overlapping each other, making a beauty of appearance seldom excelled for building purposes in any other strata. The corners are granite, and the tower, spire, and windows are also granite. The windows are simple and elegant, their tracery chaste and displaying great taste; indeed, competent judges express great admiration of the church.
  The REV. A. A. VAWDREY, through whose indefatigability the church has been built, deserves great praise in bringing it to such a successful issue. It will sit about six hundred persons, and the seats are all open and conveniently low, with proper kneeling hassocks. The roof is very plain, but handsome and lofty; on the whole the effect of the church is extremely satisfactory, and the Bishop expressed his pleasure in seeing such a commodious and beautiful church in this populous parish in which the recent census returns prove that the accommodation for public worship, as in most other mining parishes, is still deficient. The parishioners in this instance nobly and ably seconded Mr. Vawdrey in carrying out this laudable undertaking, and strangers unconnected with the parish very handsomely contributed to the same.
  The Bishop arrived about eleven o'clock and immediately commenced the service appropriated for the consecration, and Mr. HITCHINS read and made the presentation. ... At the conclusion of the service, the communion was administered to the clergy and laity present; the clergymen present with those officiating were Chancellor MARTIN, and the REVs. DIX, BARNES, WALKER, BENNETTS, MOLESWORTH, the Dean Rural, HOSKEN, W.W. HARVEY, PHILPOTTS, TREWEEKE, HASLAM, LORD, WISE and PERRY.
  This service being over, the Bishop repaired to the vicarage, and partook of luncheon, and the clergymen with a number of ladies and gentlemen went into MR. NEWTON's lawn and partook of a cold collation. This lawn is pleasingly and prettily situated on the brow of a hill, near the town, commanding an extremely beautiful view of the sea and beach. Beneath the shade of the trees, with a refreshing breeze cooling the intensity of the heat, Mr. Vawdrey took the chair, supported by about forty ladies and gentlemen. A plain but substantial cold luncheon was served, and a present of wine made it very agreeable.
  After the cloth was removed, numerous toasts were given, and "the health of Mr. Vawdrey" was particularly distinguished. The Dean Rural proposed the toast, and Mr. Vawdrey responded by observing that he had received every kindness from his parishioners, and his desire was to live in peace with all. The church was partly built under trying circumstances, but these days had passed away and prosperity was returning slowly back again.
  The party broke up very early, but reformed partly and took tea in the same place. The weather was extremely auspicious, and afforded an extensive and commanding view from the St. Agnes Beacon, which with its conical shape and isolated situation gives it pre-eminence to many hills in the county. The cliffs along the coast are exceedingly bold and romantic, with the caverns high and lofty, and afforded the strangers an agreeable and pleasant day.
• Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic Parish developed a Mass Centre started in the time of the Irish immigrants in the mid-nineteenth century. A Catholic chapel had been built in 1882 on Trevellas Downs, near Cligga Head, and was served from Camborne. Between the two world wars, people had to walk to the nearest Mass centre at Perranporth.
  The present Church, Our Lady, Star of the Sea in Trevaunance Road, St Agnes, was built in June 1958 as a Chapel-of-Ease to Redruth Parish. Previously Mass had been held in the Womens' Institute room in St. Agnes village.
• Non-Conformist. There was a Wesleyan Methodist church in St Agnes. There were also Primitive Methodist and United Methodist chapels in St Agnes.

• LDS Church Records.
  • The LDS Church batch numbers for St Agnes are: C053061, E053061, M053061, Peterville Independent chapel C045211, Goonown Wesleyan Methodist Chapel C065371. These are searchable by surname.
  • The IGI coverage of this parish is 1596 - 1837.
• The Cornwall Record Office holdings: Baptisms 1653 - 1934, Burials 1674 - 1865, Marriages 1674 - 1969, Boyd's Marriage Index 1596 - 1812, Pallot's Marriage Index 1790 - 1812, Non-Conformist records 1799 - 1837.
• The Cornwall Family History Society have published on-line transcripts of:
  • Pre 1813 Marriages
  • 1813-37 Marriages
  • 1813-37 Burials
• Baptisms.
  • Anglican Church:
    • Baptisms 1789 to 1821, and 1868 to 1911, are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
    • The OPC has made the following baptisms at St Agnes available on-line:
      • Baptisms for 1834. (Not currently available 8/18)
      • Baptisms for 1835. (Not currently available 8/18)
    • The Cornish Forefathers' Society have published on CD baptisms 1718 to 1777 for this parish which can be purchased on Parish Chest.
  • Non-Conformist:
    • Weslyan Methodist Baptisms 1799 to 1837, and 1858 to 1903, are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
• Marriages.
  • Phillimore's Marriages 1596 to 1812 are also available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (COCP).
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Marriages 1596 to 1837, which is available in Book, CD, or downloadable .pdf formats.
• Burials.
  • Burials 1700 to 1712, 1726 to 1732 and 1741 to 1837 are available on-line through the OPC search Facility - (C-PROP).
  • The Cornwall Family History Society have published transcripts of: Parish Burials 1813 to 1837, which is available in Book or CD formats.

The parish of St Agnes has been in the Truro Registration District continuously from 1st July 1837. There were sub-districts at Kea, Kenwyn, Probus, St. Agnes, St. Clement and St Just-in-Roseland, but these have now been abolished. Parishes in this registration district are: Cornelly, Cuby, Feock, Gerrans, Kea, Kenwyn, Ladock, Lamorran, Merther, Perranzabuloe, Philleigh, Probus, Ruan Lanihorne, St. Agnes, St. Allen, St. Anthony in Roseland, St. Clement, St. Erme, St. Feock, St. Just in Roseland, St. Michael Penkevil, Tregavethan, Tregony St. James, Truro St. Mary, Veryan.

The address of the Registration Office is: Dalvenie House, New County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY.
Tel: 01872 322241.

• There is a website for St Agnes available.

• Geograph
• Flickr

• Post Office 1856 Directory of St Agnes. (Not currently available 8/18)
• Kelly'S 1873 Directory of St Agnes.
• Kelly's 1889 Directory of St Agnes. (Not currently available 8/18)
• Kelly's 1914 Directory of St Agnes.  (Not currently available 8/18)

• Ask for a calculation of the distance from St Agnes to another place.

OPC Assistance.

• The On-line Parish Clerk (OPC) scheme operates a service to help family historians; the OPC page for this parish is available on-line, from where the OPC can be contacted..

• The parish and town tithe maps, and the accompanying survey books of c1840, provide a fascinating snap-shot of land use and ownership in the 19th century. In order to preserve the documents and improve access to them, the Cornwall Record Office are digitising these maps and survey books. The CD ROM tithe package include a map and survey books, together with a reader, for this parish; it is now available from the Cornwall Record Office. Details are on their website.

• The parish contained the manors of Mithian and Tywarnhayle.

• Map of the Truro Registration District in which the parish lies.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SW718488 (Lat/Lon: 50.295224, -5.204784), St Agnes which are provided by:

• OpenStreetMap
• Google Maps
• StreetMap (Current Ordnance Survey maps)
• Bing (was Multimap)
• Old Maps Online
• National Library of Scotland (Old Ordnance Survey maps)
• Vision of Britain (Click "Historical units & statistics" for administrative areas.)
• English Jurisdictions in 1851 (Unfortunately the LDS have removed the facility to enable us to specify a starting location, you will need to search yourself on their map.)
• Magic (Geographic information) (Click + on map if it doesn't show)
• GeoHack (Links to on-line maps and location specific services.)

• All places within the same township/parish shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby townships/parishes shown on an Openstreetmap map.
• Nearby places shown on an Openstreetmap map.

• Some information on the Mines in St Agnes is available.

• St Agnes parish was part of the Truro Union for Poor Law administration and parish relief.
• Overseers' Accounts 18241 to 1834 are available in the Cornwall Record Office

Up to 1971, population figures include Mount Hawke; from 1981, the figures for this parish were counted separately.

• The St Agnes Museum Trust is open to anyone interested in the parish of St Agnes and its heritage. The Trust promotes the recording, preservation and display of the history of St Agnes and the conservation of historic sites within the parish. Members of the Trust receive a free copy of the Annual Journal, regular newsletters and notification of all meetings and activities. Membership details can be obtained from the Membership Secretary: Beryl Thomas, who can be contacted by e-mail.
• The St Agnes Old Cornwall Society News Page is on-line.

St Agnes comprises 8438 acres of land and 4 acres of water. Mount Hawke was created from part of parish 1847.