St Wyllow Lanteglos

Lanteglos by Fowey is a coastal parish in Southeast Cornwall in which three of our churches are situated – the Parish church of St Wyllow at Lanteglos, St Saviour in Polruan and St John’s Bodinnick. They are situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the south coast of Cornwall. To the south is the sea and to the west is the River Fowey.

There is a foot ferry to Fowey from Polruan and a car ferry runs from Bodinnick to Fowey. Our harbour and beaches are extraordinarily beautiful, and sailing is a major activity here. Our population doubles in the summer when holidaymakers come from all over the country and beyond to enjoy the area. St. Wyllow at Lanteglos by Fowey is a beautiful Grade I listed building with a capacity of 300. Largely mediaeval, it stands two miles outside the village of Polruan. We are mainstream Anglican using seasonal liturgy at the parish church at Lanteglos by Fowey.

The Rector is supported in leading worship by a Lay Reader and four Local Worship Leaders. There is a strong music tradition in Lanteglos. We have an Organist and Musical Director conducting a fifteen strong choir currently singing at Advent, Christmas, Easter, Harvest and Remembrance Sunday as well as other festivals. We have a team of Bell Ringers who ring for Eucharist services at St. Wyllow when they are available. St. Saviour in Polruan is a Victorian mission church with a capacity of 100 and situated on Fore Street in Polruan. Family communion is held on a monthly basis.

Much time and effort is devoted to running activities for children and young people including Messy Church, Sing A New Song, Kidz Klub, Youth Club and Open the Book. A holiday club takes place during the summer holiday for School Years Reception to Year Nine. In the village of Bodinnick, the tiny church of St John’s holds approximately 30 people and lies at the very heart of the village a little way upriver from Polruan. Services are held here to celebrate the major festivals including Harvest, Remembrance, Christmas, Easter, and Harvest of the Sea in the summer period. Services are normally held in the evening at 6.30pm and are followed by drinks and nibbles and a good old village catch up.

The church has a special little garden which is lovingly looked after by a great band of local volunteers. It is also a favourite for walkers of the Hall Walk where they can stop and picnic and enjoy some estuary views. Interestingly the church was first used as a stable block for those using the Ferry Inn and it was given to the local community by the owner of the inn to use as a church.

The Parish of Lanteglos has very active clubs and societies based from Polruan including a Theatre Club, RNLI, National Coast Watch, W.I., Church Choir, Angling Club, Bridge Club, Poetry Group and Allotment Group. Polruan Town Trust manages the Town Lands. We have a community bus run by a team of drivers, Lent Courses, Age Concern carers and drivers.

We also have a caring and discreet undertaker residing in the parish. There is a County Primary School in the Village (which is in a Federation with Pelynt and within Bridge School Multi Academy Trust) where 25 children attend. Our ‘Open the Book’ Team visit to tell dramatised Bible Stories each week. The Rector takes regular assemblies and his wife Harriet is a school Governor. The school comes to St Saviours in Polruan for a number of school services including, Harvest Festival, Christmas, Mothering Sunday, Easter, and a Summer Leavers Service.