Church of St Martin by Looe

St Martin’s Church stands in the quiet hamlet of St Martin-by-Looe, a short walk from the busy harbour of Looe in Cornwall. Built across the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, the church mixes Norman and medieval styles. Its wagon roofs, Norman doorway and font survive from the earliest period. A major restoration in 1882 straightened leaning pillars and lowered the floor, while a second in 1907 added heating and reopened a lancet window. The Venerable Archdeacon Henry Du Boulay led the reopening service in 1907. The building holds records of local power and learning. Early patrons included Sir William de Bodrygan, a 13th-century lord who helped grant East Looe its privileges. The south aisle once held the mayor’s pew, and a squire from the Langdon family watched the preacher through a squint in the 1612 parclose screen. Inside, the chancel contains the tomb of Philip Maiowe, while the aisles display a monument to Walter Langdon and his wife. A brass tablet on the south wall commemorates Jonathan Toup, a rector and Greek scholar whose scholarship was praised across Europe. Visitors find a peaceful interior rich in detail. The 15th-century wagon roofs arch over the nave and aisles, and modern carved woodwork includes choir stalls and nave benches. A fine organ by Henry Speechley was opened in 1878 by J. Nicholson of St Bartholomew’s, London. The tower holds six bells cast in 1882 by John Taylor & Co. Outside, the churchyard overlooks rolling Cornish countryside, a quiet place beside the lively streets of Looe.