The Churches of the North Kernow Benefice are:-
St James the Great Church, Kilkhampton;
St Swithin's Church, Launcells;
St Morwenna and St John the Baptist Church, Morwenstow;
St Olaf's Church, Poughill and
St Andrew's Church, Stratton.
We have regular services at 11.00am every Sunday to which everyone is very welcome. Refreshments are served after the service.
Our Grade 1 Listed Church, the oldest part of which is the Norman doorway, has a number of noteworthy features including a complete set of medieval pews with very ornate end carvings, and several very early Clayton and Bell stained glass windows.
The organ is a very fine instrument, restored recently, which has parts said to come from Westminster Abbey. The Church and extensive burial ground are generally in good repair. It was re-roofed in the past 20 years and the main path from the lych gate to the south porch was replaced last year. We have a peal of eight bells, rung regularly.
"The least spoilt church in Cornwall"
St Swithin’s Church is situated just off the main road from Stratton to Holsworthy in a quiet, wooded valley, by a stream. It is Grade 1 listed and well maintained, being described by Sir John Betjeman as “The least spoilt church in Cornwall”. Famous for the
magnificent medieval carved pew ends and encaustic tiles in the chancel, it contains no stained glass, however, much of the original medieval plain glass remains creating a wonderful soft light. In 2024, St Swithin's Church was awarded an A rocha Eco-church Bronze Award.
We have services every 1st, 2nd and 4th Sunday morning at 11.15am in every month and a Taize service every 3rd Sunday at 6.00pm.
The church is open always and enjoyed by many visitors, as is evident from comments in the visitors’ book. The church is surrounded by a ‘living churchyard’, creating a haven for wild life.
The Parish Church of St Morwenna and St John the Baptist, Morwenstow, is dedicated to Morwenna (a local saint) and St John the Baptist, and is part of the North Kernow Benefice of Kilkhampton, Launcells, Morwenstow, Poughill and Stratton, within the Diocese of Truro. We have services every Sunday and all visitors are very welcome to come and worship in this very beautiful church in a remote setting on the rugged north Cornish coast.
Morwenstow Church is probably best-known for its links with the 19th century cleric, poet and eccentric, the Rev. R. S. Hawker, Vicar from 1834 to 1875. His vicarage (now a private house) stands nearby. The Church has close and very active links with St. Mark’s Church of England Primary School, located at the nearby hamlet of Shop. The church is open daily for visitors.
We are a forward-looking Anglican church in the village of Poughill on the edge of Bude, North Cornwall. As well as worshipping in Church, we meet together in smaller groups for social occasions, in youth and children's groups, and for prayer and Bible study. We try to support each other in our Faith and in our day to day lives. We don’t have all the answers but we are on a journeyof discovery -growing to know God and what it means to follow Jesus Christ in the 21st century.
Do join us - we love meeting new people, so visitors are especially welcome.
Welcome to the Parish Church of Stratton. We hold services every Sunday at 9.30am and every Wednesday at 10.30am, and also a Service of Evensong on the first Sunday of the month at 6.00pm (4.00pm in winter). Visitors to our services are very welcome.
The church is open daily for private prayer and reflection, or for interested visitors. Our aim is to serve the people of the community regardless of whether they are churchgoers or choose to become Christians.
We are part of the North Kernow Benefice, comprising 5 churches in the area: at Kilkhampton, Launcells, Morwenstow, Poughill and Stratton.
We are very keen to make use of a multi-purpose space at the back of the church, complete with excellent kitchen facilities, which is suitable both for church use and a space that the church can offer for the use of the local community. We especially enjoy our shared meals there on Fridays in the winter months and cream teas in the summer.
St Andrew’s is a Grade 1 Listed Building, with 13th century Norman stonework and a 13th century stone effigy. The 14th century saw the addition of a north aisle. Further alterations and additions followed in the 15th century (when the tower was added), and also in the 16th century. Considerable restoration work was undertaken in 1888, and then again in 1900, when a vestry (with a cellar beneath) was added to the north of the Lady Chapel. The present wooden rood screen was completed in 1907, replacing the 16th century screen removed by order of Henry VIII. In the early 1960s the Nave was refurbished with new oak pews upon many of which have been attached restored medieval carved bench ends.In 2018/19 the Font was relocated to enable the creation of a social area and kitchen.
Standing proudly on high ground overlooking historic Stratton, St Andrew’s has served the needs of Christians in the area for over 750 years.