Corpus of Percy Bacon

Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

St Kew, St James the Great

Cornwall

St James the Great, St Kew

St Kew is reputedly the earliest mentioned of any Cornish village, it appearing in The Life of St Samson, written sometime between 610 and 820. Kew is named after a Welsh saint, Cywa or Kew who came to the area to visit her brother, Docco (or Dochau) who had founded a religious house near the present village. Samson is reported to have visited Doccu, and hence the early reference. The legends around St Kew herself are the usual fanciful mixture of folklore and embellishment. She came from Wales where she had founded the church of Llangiwa, travelling through Somerset founding more churches on the way, finally ending up at St Kew to visit her brother. Her brother, however, would not admit her until she had rid the area of a marauding, man-eating bear (or boar). Kew tamed the beast and it became her companion (and her symbol). A more recent rendering of the tale suggests she actually inspired the local people to hunt down the animal and kill it! Kew then built a small church on or near the site of the present building. The village of St Kew grew around her hermitage.

The present church was built in the 15th century and has some remarkable medieval features, not least of which is the fabulous Passion window of 1469 in the east wall of the north chapel. 15th century passion window (1469) in the east wall of the north chapel. Click here for the story of this window's restoration. St James also has a considerable quantity of fragments of 15th century glass, documented by Michael Swift here.

Posted 12 August 2022.

South Chancel SC2, 1911

South Chancel 2: St Peter, St Kew, St James, BVM.

St Peter.

St Kew with her tame bear.

St James.

Blessed Virgin Mary.

Tracery: Angel holding scroll.

Tracery: Arm of the Diocese of Exeter.

Tracery: Arm of the Diocese of Truro.

Symbol of St Kew; The tamed bear.

Kneeling angel holding the dedication scroll - right.

Kneeling angel holding the dedication scroll - left.

South Chancel: St Peter, St Kew, St James & BVM
All holding their symbols.

A four light window depicting St Peter, St Kew, St James and BVM installed in 1911¹. In the tracery arms of the Diocese of Exeter and Truo and an angel holding a scroll which reads; "This honour have all His Saints" (Psalms 149:9) . Each saint holds his symbols: Peter; Keys and a bible. Kew; a crossed staff and model of a church. St James; wearing a cloak embellished with scallop shells he holds a staff with pilgrim's gourd and a bible. The BVM holds a book with lilies beside her. At St Kew's feet, the apocryphal tamed bear. On shields below each saint their symbols are reinforced.

The dedication on a scroll running across the four lights held by kneeling angels (a common Bacon motif) reads: To the glory of God and in memory of the beloved wife of Nicholas Thomas Every, Priest, by whom, with his parishoners this window is erected as a thank-offering in the 60th year of his Vicariate. A.D. 1911". The Rev Every who was considered to be "one of the best parish clergymen in the diocese of Truro"²; continued to serve his parish for another three years before his death in 1915.

References: Use your browser's Back button to return to text.

The Builder 1911-08-04: Vol 101 Iss 3574, p124.
Truth - Wednesday 15 December 1915, p957.

Location Map:

NGR: SX 02156 76886
Sat Nav Post Code: PL30 3HB