Parish Church of St Swithin

"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.

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Give Now!

Please support this ancient and beautiful church.

Get in touch

Val Hopper - Benefice Administrator

Val Hopper - Benefice Administrator
email : [email protected]

Mrs Maggie Cooper, Churchwarden
07900 898904
Mrs Dympna Wynne-Morter, Assistant Churchwarden
07974 627414
What's on

ST SWITHIN'S CHURCH, LAUNCELLS - Concert of Words and Music

for 2 hours, 45 mins
Parish Church of St Swithin
Launcells Bude, EX23 9NQ, United Kingdom

Celebrating St Swithin's Church and its Vicars over 800 years
Early Church music to Handel and from Victorian music to Jazz
Readings from Shakespeare to Rev Robert Hawker, from Betjeman to Rupert Brooke
6.30pm Drinks and Canapes
7.30pm - 9.15pm Concert (15 min internal)

Our Benefice
News

SERVICES AT ALL THE CHURCHES IN THE BENEFICE ON SUNDAY 19th JULY 2026

A weekly bulletin of services at each of the 5 churches in the Benefice on Sunday 12th July - Trinity 6

Read this story

Safeguarding

We at St Swithin’s Church are committed to safeguarding all who worship with us and all who visit the church. We recognise that everyone has different levels of vulnerability and that each of us may be regarded as vulnerable at some time in our lives, but there are particular groups of people who need to be cared for. These include children and at-risk adults.

Who to contact with safeguarding concerns:

Concerns about the well-being and safety of children, young people and adults should be reported to our Safeguarding Officer – Mrs Maggie Cooper (07900 898904) email: [email protected]
or in her absence to Rev Teresa Folland (01288 352599).

For advice and help with a safeguarding concern from the Safeguarding team at the Diocese of Truro, please email
[email protected]. The Diocesan Safeguarding Officer is Andy Earl (01872 247212)

Other useful organisations
NSPCC 0808 800 5000 or [email protected]

Where there is an urgent need for intervention for a child, email Cornwall Social Services at
MARU (Multi Agency Referral Unit): [email protected]
Tel: 0300 123 1116 (or out of hours on 01208 251300).

Where there is an urgent need for intervention for an adult, please contact
Cornwall Social Services Safeguarding Team on 0300 1234 131 (or out of hours on 01208 251300).

In an emergency, contact the police via 999.

Click here for reporting a concern to the Diocese