Friends of St Juliot Church
St Juliot Church is a delightful little rural parish church set among wild flowers near to the Atlantic coast of Cornwall, just inland from Boscastle.
Thomas Hardy, the well-known author and poet, started work as an architect, and the St Juliot church restoration is one of the very few works, which can be attributed to him. He came in 1870 to find the old church derelict, and was charged with the work of renovating and rebuilding in harmony with the remaining sound parts from the sixteenth century. On arriving to stay at the Rectory, Hardy met Emma Gifford, the sister-in-law of the Rector, and they fell in love. He married her in 1874 and they set up house in London. Hardy's novel "A Pair of Blue Eyes" recounts their meeting and the church renovation in its first part. Many of the places he describes can be identified today, though he changed their names. The marriage latterly turned sour and they lived separate lives.
On the death of Emma n 1912 in Dorset, Hardy returned to St Juliot and placed a memorial stone in the church. He wrote some of the finest love poetry in remorse. Later, after Hardy died in 1928, a similar memorial was placed in the church next to Emma's.
Visitors to the church will find a strong imprint of Hardy's restoration, although the internal arrangement has been adjusted for modern usage. Unfortunately the ravages of the Atlantic gales have taken their toll on the building, and again the congregation has recently been faced with considerable expense in keeping it in a sound condition.
About ten years ago the tower was repointed, costing £7,000. More recently the north (Hardy's) wall was damp-proofed and replastered. In 1998all the roof slates were removed and renailed, as Hardy's iron nails had rusted out. This time copper nails were used, and the cost was £13,380. In early 2000 the east walls were stripped and replastred, as damp from the previously leaky roof had rotted the plaster.
Many more works still need to be done. Soon the tower roof needs re-leading before the bell timber rot. The chancel floor tiles are breaking up. Wooden floor joist are rotting. Lead in the window frames is rotting with age, and one window blew loose recently in a gale, so they all need replacing soon.
On the suggestion of a prominent member of the Thomas Hardy Society, the local congregation started Friends of St Juliot Church. The aim of the organisation is to publicise the existence and importance of the church, to help raise funds towards much needed renovation, and the future maintenance of the building for future generations. The funds raised by the friends have been dedicated to replacing the endangered lead windows. Fortunately there is an expert specialist in the district to the work at an affordable cost.
130 years ago Emma Hardy is quoted as writing "It was a very poor parish". Little has changed: North Cornwall has one of the highest unemployment rates in England, and Cornwall has the lowest family income, according to a recent government survey. The burden of maintaining this historic building falls on a very small congregation of ageing people in a parish of whose population is only 239.
If you would like details of Friends of St Juliot Church, please write for an annual report and application form to:-
The Hon Treasurer,
Colin Wadey,
Penwarnick,
Marshgate,
Camelford.
PL32 9YN.
The annual subscription for membership is only £15.00
Sally or Chris Searle
Tel: 01840 250 225
E-mail:- sally@stjuliot.com
Most major credit cards welcome