RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cornwall => Topic started by: bfandbf on Sunday 17 November 13 19:03 GMT (UK)
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While tracing family roots, I visited Perranuthnoe where my great great grandfather, William Johns, was baptised in 1824. It is a very interesting small church, double naved and while much altered over the years, it retains a special character.
I was fascinated by the very small wooden door inset into the main entry door, also wooden. By the looks of it, the whole is very old. The first thing I thought of was "dog door" and it seems like I read in a pamphlet or heard somewhere that the little door really was a door that farmers could bring their sheep dogs in and tie them up at the back of the church for the service. Does anyone know the real story. I have feelers out on the village web site and a letter to the vicar but so far no answers.
Some of the pews are ornately carved, including a bust-revealing woman in mideaval looking costume: very racy! I loved the pamphlet on the different species of lichens on the church and the headstones.
Barry
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There is an explanation for a small door set into the main door on this site:-
http://photoreflect.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/old-church-doors.html
Also a picture on:-
http://lincoln.ourchurchweb.org.uk/winterton/heritage/architecture/
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/features/features/10529699.print/
David