Church of St Protus and St Hyacinth

St Protus and St Hyacinth’s Church stands in the quiet village of Blisland on Cornwall’s western edge. Built by Normans, it still keeps its original nave and north transept, though most of what visitors see today was added in the 15th century. A tall tower rises from the north transept, and a wide south aisle runs beside the nave. A stone porch shelters the main door, while inside a wagon roof spans the length of the church. The chancel was carefully restored in the 1890s by the rector and architect F. C. Eden. The church’s dedication comes from two early Christian martyrs whose names were once shortened locally to ‘St Pratt’. In 1950 the rector’s father, Dr Sidney J. Madge, published a full account of the saints and the building. Earlier writers such as Charles Henderson wondered if the church had once been dedicated to St Adwen. Among its treasures is a fine brass of John Balsam, rector here in the early 1400s. The stained glass in the south chancel aisle was designed by Bucknall and Ninian Comper and given by Mrs Lucy Edward-Collins in memory of her husband and son. Inside, the church feels calm and spacious, with the Norman walls softened by later windows and fittings. The wagon roof above is richly patterned, and the second font stands near the north transept chapel. Outside, the churchyard holds yew and sycamore trees that frame the tower. Beyond the gate, lanes lead to Bodmin Moor, where granite tors rise against the sky. The building remains a peaceful centre for its joint parish, which also includes St Catherine’s, St Breward’s and St Helena’s.