St Day Old Church: Breathing new life into an old building

the Roof!

St Day Old Church enjoys a new lease of life as a community hub and entertainment venue

Photographs by Charles Francis

Towering above the village of St Day is a building so impressive, the late poet Sir John Betjeman referred to it as an “ecclesiastical toy fort”. Following a 30-year campaign to save it, this stunning building strikes the perfect balance between relic and ruin.

In 2021, it found a new lease of life as an entertainment venue under the watchful eye of the St Day Old Church Community Interest Company (CIC). There are six voluntary directors, all with different skills, be it health and safety, fundraising, PR and marketing or theatre programming. Lesley Trotter’s specialism is history, and she sees the Old Church as a self-supporting tripod of heritage, arts and community.

“The building is iconic to the local landscape - wherever you walk around St Day, you can see it,” she says. “Its presence is there in the community, all the time. It makes sense for it to be used, but while there were efforts before the millennium to save the church, there was no coherent plan to generate any income to ensure we could keep it safe for public use.” The emphasis is on sustainability rather than quick fixes. “That’s incredibly important, and it’s one reason we haven’t replaced the roof – apart from the fact it’s a USP and lends atmosphere, it would generate a maintenance problem for future generations. We’d rather keep what we’ve got in good order, and generate a feeling of belonging in the town, so it becomes part of our lives and not just the scenery.”

The Old Church was built in 1826, part of a surge in church building to commemorate victory in the Battle of Waterloo (fellow “Waterloo churches” including St Paul’s in Charlestown and St George’s & St John’s in Truro).

In the early 19th century, the mining industry was booming, and nowhere more so than in an area once referred to as “the world’s richest square mile”. St Day needed a larger church to cater for the rapidly growing population in the town and surrounding district. The building followed designs by Christopher Hutchens of Torpoint in the popular Gothic Revival style, and with its grand gallery, it could accommodate a congregation of 1,500 people. But by the early 1900s, the congregation had dwindled so drastically with the decline of mining that the decision was made to remove the gallery. This compromised the stability of the entire church, which was declared unsafe and closed in 1956. The church community moved into the hall opposite, where it remains to this day, and the once glorious building was left unmaintained for decades. In 1985, part of the roof caved in; the decision was made to remove it completely, and the church has been exposed to the elements ever since.

In 1988, St Day Old Church Appeal Committee was formed, launching what would be a 30-year battle to save the building. Three years ago, things were cranked up a notch when the church was purchased for £1 from the Diocese of Truro by the new CIC. A huge community effort ensued to get the building set up as a centre for heritage, education and the arts.

Thanks to a number of funders, including Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), £138,000 was

raised and essential works were undertaken, including window repairs and the installation of a modern electricity supply. A mosaic was created by the community under the watchful eye of artist Clare Summerson, and the reception class of the local primary school ran 100 miles in laps around their classrooms to raise money, and were rewarded with the opportunity to be the first performers on the new stage. “That’s why we do this,” says Lesley. “I hope that memory will stay with them forever. Many of the children go back generations in St Day, and nurturing those connections will ensure the survival of the building.”

The church is extremely popular with the Cornish diaspora, with descendants of Cousin Jacks – the miners who left Cornwall in search of work in Australia, South Africa, Mexico and other locations – regularly visiting St Day. “In a normal year, we might expect around 3,000 people asking for church access for this reason,” says Lesley. “One lady from Tasmania came, and was able to stand where her great-great-grandmother had married. It was such an emotional connection.” While not quite restored to its former glory, any imperfections simply add character. The stone floor is peppered with bits of original church floor tile; an aged piece of wood from the fallen roof timbers still sits behind the stage in the shape of a cross, while the cracked central heating pipes still line the walls.

The first entertainment season began in August, a year later than planned due to the pandemic. The Old Church CIC has programmed an eclectic mix of events to give the people of St Day and surrounding area a reason to come and see their church brought to life, from children’s theatre to adult-only storytelling performances, film nights and a musical bonanza day for all the family.

Running the church as a venue has been a learning curve for all involved. Having got to grips with it, the CIC hopes for more events and, crucially, more volunteer stewards. “We might even get to the point where we create employment,” says Lesley. “Ultimately, the more people use it, the more people love it, the longer it will survive.” l

DIARY DATES:

April 23 - Mohan: A Partition Story Mixed Scots-Indian writer Niall Moorjani recalls their grandpa’s experiences of the Partitioning of India 75 years ago. Moving, visceral, emotive and at times hilarious, the story will be interwoven with fascinating historical insight, and set to live music. Tickets £12.

April 30 - Peri... Meno... What now?! Nina Hills’ comedy show about the perimenopause - expect stand-up, song, rap and even a cuppa. Who knew getting old would be such a pain in the lady garden? Adult themes and language - 16+. Tickets £12.

May 7 - Katie’s Black Hole Adventures Little Trebiggan Theatre Katie is given a science kit for her 10th birthday and opens a black hole in her bedroom into which her noisy dad gets sucked. Will she be able to get him back? Will he ever be the same again? Fun, frolics, musical fusion and a little bit of science in this family show. Tickets £6.

May 28 - Wish We Weren't Here Camidge & Stringer A west Cornwall tourist information office in 2023. Staff members Linda and Jak swap their lockdown experiences and explore the ‘complaints’ archive, with contributions from George Eliot and DH Lawrence. Tickets £12.