One of the joys of my job working for Viscount is getting to visit communities and churches that you would otherwise never visit in day-to-day life. My visit to the Parish Church of St. Winwaloe near The Lizard peninsula in West Cornwall was no exception.
Earlier in the year we were asked to provide a Cantorum VI Plus single manual organ to the church of St. Martin in Meneage near The Lizard. Their old electronic organ had failed after around 40 years of service, and they needed an inexpensive replacement which was also portable and the Cantorum VI Plus fitted the bill.
A neighbouring parish calls for the same replacement
Six months later and we get a call from the organist, who also happens to play at St. Winwaloe. Again, the ageing electronic instrument had failed, and a replacement was necessary and so another Cantorum VI Plus was sought.
Neither church had a pipe organ, and being subject to the wind and weather of the Atlantic Ocean, such an instrument would be completely impractical as well as unaffordable for such a small parish.
Beautifully built and popular church
The church of St. Winwaloe itself is incredibly interesting. Just metres from the sea, it’s not named ‘The Church of the Storms’ for nothing. It’s beauty and location also make it a very popular wedding venue, with the church having between 20 and 50 per year.
The church register sites clergy right back to the 1,200’s. It is the most beautiful building with ornately carved roof beams in the south aisle.
Featured in a few TV appearances
Unsurprisingly, the church has been used as a location for a number of TV shows. For example, the outside of the church was used in a scene for Doc Martin and the TV series Poldark used the Lady Chapel as location for a wedding. Interestingly, all the newly installed church lighting in the south aisle had to be removed for filming and then put back.
In the north-west corner of the church there is a curious structure which looks rather like a confessional. Apparently, many years ago a Polish film company used the church as a location and they needed a vestry, which the church does not have.
The film company built the wooden structure as a vestry façade and it’s been in the church ever since. It’s now used as a store cupboard.
I have played the church organ since the age of 11. I am organist at my local catholic church as well as accompanist for a small choral group and keyboard player in a function band. I am committed to ensuring Viscount customers get industry leading service and advice, resulting in the very best organ to suit their needs, be it church, school, home or concert hall.
Pleased to see this. I often visit this lovely church and it was disappointing to see an ancient (I think a Thomas) pub-type organ in situ. The Cantorum will be a great improvement, especially if they have an external speaker system.