The of , (Cornish: Lannsalwys ), also anciently called Lansalewys , is situated in the Deanery and Hundred of West. It is bounded on the north by , on the east by , on the south by the sea, and on the west by Lanteglos-by- and Lanreath. The parish name means 'Church site (lann) of unknown name'. Lansallos is a small village on the south coast of between Fowey and , situated above the scenic Lansallos Cliffs. When Talland was abolished in 1934, the area was distributed between and Lansallos .

Population

Talland civil parish was abolished in 1934; the area was distributed between Looe and Lansallos parishes and this partially accounts for population variations from 1951.

Population in 1801 - 847 persons Population in 1901 - 663 persons Population in 1811 - 804 persons Population in 1911 - 607 persons Population in 1821 - 880 persons Population in 1921 - 568 persons Population in 1831 - 884 persons Population in 1931 - 570 persons Population in 1841 - 828 persons Population in 1851 - 699 persons Population in 1951 - 1504 persons Population in 1861 - 659 persons Population in 1961 - 1427 persons Population in 1871 - 667 persons Population in 1971 - 1491 persons Population in 1881 - 707 persons Population in 1981 - 1585 persons Population in 1891 - 691 persons Population in 1991 - 1623 persons Population in 2001 - 1584 persons

Church History

Anglican . The parish church is located in OS Grid Square SX1751; it is dedicated to St Ildierna. The present church building was dedicated on 16th October 1321. It consists of a chancel, nave, and north and south aisles. The south arcade has six four-centred arches, and the north arcade has three. There is a south porch and a north door. The tower is of three stages and is 60 feet in height; it is buttress at the angles and finished with battlements and crocketed pinnacles surmounted with crosses. The church is situated on an elevated position some 514 feet above sea-level. The church at Lansallos is of ancient foundation, going back to the time of the Celtic missionary monks who evangelized Cornwall in the early centuries of the first Christian Millennium. About a hundred years after it was built, such extensive reconstruction was undertaken, including the aisles and the tower, that one wonders whether it should not be called a 15th century church. With capacity for 150, one of the church's outstanding features is its English oak medieval pews, with the carvings on the bench ends mostly crafted between 1490 and 1520. In 2005 a disastrous fire seriously damaged the church building. The present church succeeded a Norman church on the same site, and before that there had been a Celtic establishment here. The place was the "Lan" or monastery of St. Salwys, about whom nothing is known. He probably lived some time in the 9th century. (In the Domesday Survey of 1086, the manor of Lansalhas is one of the 288 manors given to the Earl of Mortain). Although St. Salwys gave his name to the parish, the church building is dedicated to St. Ildierna. Again, nothing definite is known about St. Ildierna - we do not even know for certain whether 'he' was a man or a woman. The saint is referred to in an account by William of Worcester, who visited Fowey in 1478 and heard that Saint Hyldren, a bishop, lies in the Parish of Lansalux, near the parish of Lanteglys; his feast is held on the first day of February, that is on the vigil of the Purification of the Blessed Mary . However, there are other, older documents which refer to St. Ildierna as a virgin. In the early 21st century, Lansallos parish came together with Lanteglos parish to form the united ecclesiastical parish of Lanteglos-by-Fowey with Lansallos.

The church of St John's in Polperro is now regarded as wholly within Talland parish. Further information on the church is available, and the church has its own website. Details about the plans of the modern church are available on-line.

Non-Conformist . The United Methodist Free Church built a chapel in the Churchtown, to which a large cemetery was attached. The Wesleyan Methodists, Wesleyan Association, the Independents, and the Bible Christians, built chapels in Polperro. There was also a Bible Christian chapel at .The Church of St. Ildierna, is the parish church for Lansallos and lies within the Diocese of (visit pages at http://www.truro.anglican.org/). The church building dominates this tiny community west of the village of Polperro, and is enjoyed each year by hundreds of visitors who come to experience the tranquility and beauty of this part of Cornwall, and to spend a time of peace and quiet in the presence of God.

Lansallos has a long and successful history of bell-ringing, and the tower regularly enters competitions with a good deal of success. There is a peal of eight bells, and we also have a team of handbell ringers.

Inside the church there are a great number of features of historic and architectural interest, not least the magnificent carved oaken pews which were made between 1490 and 1520. The parish produced a guide which is available in the church.

History

The church at Lansallos is of ancient foundation, going back to the time of the Celtic missionary monks who evangelized Cornwall in the early centuries of the first Christian Millennium. The present church building was dedicated in 1321 and extensively renovated and extended some one hundred years later. The place was the “Lan” (holy site, monastery) of St. Salwys, about whom nothing definite is known.

Although St. Salwys gave his name to the parish, the church building is dedicated to St. Ildierna. Again, nothing definite is known about St. Ildierna – we do not even know for certain whether ‘he’ was a man or a woman. The saint is referred to in an account by William of Worcester, who visited Fowey in 1478 and heard that “Saint Hyldren, a bishop, lies in the Parish of Lansalux, near the parish of Lanteglys; his feast is held on the first day of February, that is on the vigil of the Purification of the Blessed Mary.” However, there are other, older documents which refer to St. Ildierna as a virgin.

Lansallos (Lan Salus, the place of deliverance) The church of St Alwys (according to other authorities, St. Ildierna), situated 514 feet above the sea-level, is an ancient building of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave of six bays, aisles, south porch, and an embattled western tower 60 feet high, with pinnacles, and containing 3 bells, of which the first has an invocation to St. Margaret; the other two, both undated, are broken; the font is Norman; there are numerous modern tablets and some inscribed floor stones; the church under went partial restoration in 1883- 4 at a cost of about £740, and has 250 sittings. The register dates form the year 1600.

Trubodys in Lansallos.

John Trewbody 3 Sep 1684 Elizabeth Trubody Abt 1690