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MURAL PAINTINGS IN CORNISH CHURCHES. 



Report of the Committee— consisting of Mr. J. D. Enys, Mr. Thurstan C. Peter, 



and Mr. H. Michell Whitley— to prepare a list of the Mural Paintings and other 



remains of colour decoration, now or formerly existing in Cornish Churches. 



The committee have now the pleasure of presenting their 

 report, together with a list of the wall paintings and other 

 remains of colour decoration, now or formerly existing in Cornish 

 Churches, as far as can he ascertained. 



Adopting the valuable list compiled for the South Kensing- 

 ton Museum*' by Mr. C. E. Keyser, F.S.A. as a basis, they added 

 to it from their personal knowledge and enquiries ; and then 

 issued a circular to the clergy throughout the diocese asking 

 their assistance in correcting the list already compiled, and in 

 furnishing new examples which had been omitted, and the replies 

 received have been very complete, and have aided the committee 

 materially in drawing up the following list. 



It will be seen, however, how small a proportion of churches 

 of ancient foundation now possess any traces of the Mediseval 

 paintings, which, undoubtedly, in the great majority of cases, if 

 not all, at one time adorned their walls. 



Our ancestors did not hesitate to add to the beauty of form 

 the warmth of colour. Our mediaeval churches glowed with 

 colour — the walls covered with paintings ; the roofs and screens 

 bright with scarlet and white and gold ; richly wrought hangings; 

 tombs adorned with polychrome ; and windows filled with richly 

 coloured glass; brought the building to one harmonious whole, 

 which suited better our northern climate, than the cold bare 

 church so much in vogue until almost the present time, although, 

 fortunately, we are now gradually returning to an appreciation of 

 the use of decorative colour. 



* A list of Buildings in Great Britain and Ireland having Mural and other painted 

 decorations, 3rd edition, 1883, hereafter referred to as "SK I^ist." 



