St Martin's Church, Liskeard

St Martin’s Church stands in the market town of Liskeard, Cornwall. It is the second-largest parish church in the county, after St Petroc’s in Bodmin. The building mixes Norman fragments with a mainly 15th-century structure. The South Chapel dates from 1428, the south chancel aisle from 1430, and north-side additions from 1477. The tower was repaired in 1675 and largely rebuilt between 1898 and 1902 by John Sampson of Liskeard. The churchyard holds two stone crosses, Tencreek Cross and Culverland Cross, moved here in 1908. The church is worth visiting for its layered history and fine fittings. Richard Coad, a Liskeard and London architect, directed a major restoration in 1878–1879 costing over £3,700. James Chapman Bishop installed an organ in 1844, later rebuilt by Hele and Company in 1879. The tower contains eight bells, the oldest by Christopher Pennington from 1755 and the newest by Mears and Stainbank from 1901. A 1980 restoration by Lance Foy brought the organ to its present three-manual form with 40 speaking stops. Inside, visitors find stowable chairs replacing old pews and a small café added in the 2018 renovation. Improved heating, audio-visual facilities and toilets now serve the congregation. The organ’s 1923 opening recital was given by Hubert Stanley Middleton. The tower’s eight bells ring in E flat, with the tenor bell weighing 681 kg. The church shares its parish with nearby St Keyne’s Church in St Keyne.