St Winnow, Cornwall Genealogy

= Parish History =

The parish of St Winnow dates back at least 1000 years and is mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086. The area is just over 5000 acres. There are two churches, and the St Winnow Parish Church is in the extreme south of the parish at approximate grid reference 115570. More centrally located is the Church or Chapel of St Nectan (also called St Nighton's) at approximate grid reference 128600. This latter is part of the St Winnow Parish and is known as a "chapel of ease" (or "chapel of convenience"). Portions of the St Winnow Church date from Norman times and both churches are largely from the 15th century. St Nectan's Church was significantly damaged during the civil war in 1644 and alterations have been made. There was also a restoration at St Winnow's Church during the 19th century, but the essential character of the building was not significantly changed. Glass windows honoring both saints are found in the parish church of St Winnow.

The parish is rather sparsely populated (fewer than 1000 inhabitants), with the largest center of population at Bridgend, which, although part of St Winnow parish, is now usually considered to be a part of the town of Lostwithiel, which is across the Fowey River bridge. Until recently, the parish was in the Bodmin Civil Registration District, but is now in the Liskeard Civil Registration District. Other than Bridgend, the parish is mostly agricultural with little industry or commerce. There is now a more recent Church of England center in Bridgend, but historic parish registers for the parish of St Winnow include only events at St Winnow and St Nectan's churches.

= Neighboring Parishes =

Adjacent parishes beginning on the north going clockwise are Cardinham, Broadoak (Braddoc), Boconnoc, St Veep, St Sampson (Golant), Lanlivery, Lostwithiel, and Lanhydrock. The hamlet of Lerryn straddles the River Lerryn with part of the homes in St Winnow parish and the other part in St Veep parish. The parishes of St Sampson and Lanlivery are separated from St Winnow by the River Fowey, and there has been less interaction than is found with the other neighboring parishes. Lostwithiel, Lanhydrock, and Cardinham are connected by bridges over the Fowey, which has allowed for more association and movement than with the former parishes over the river. Lostwithiel has always been the nearest center of commerce for St Winnow, especially Bridgend, which is in St Winnow parish but in some respects is part of the town of Lostwithiel.

= Resources =

Cemeteries
There are cemeteries at both the St Winnow and the St Nectan's Churches. Both are still in use and maintained to a modest degree.

Parish Records
Some records have been filmed by the GSU and films are in the LDS Family History Library, but the coverage is far from complete. The Cornwall Record Office collection is much more nearly complete, and is open to the public by appointment. The Cornwall Family History Society has indexes available for marriages 1622-1837 and burials 1813-1837. These can be purchased in booklet, CD, or PDF download form. The Cornish Forefathers' Society has published transcriptions of baptisms (christenings) from 1708-1850 on CD. St Winnow has an online parish clerk who can be contacted through their website at http://www.cornwall-opc.org/. This is a volunteer position, and he has access to some parish records, as well as some transcriptions of non-conformist records. He will answer inquiries as time and availability of records permits. Some of the parish records have also been put into the Cornwall Online Parish Clerks database (access through the same interent link) and can be viewed directly.

Non-conformist records up to 1900 have also been published on CD and are available from commercial sources, such as Cornwall Legacy. Most non-conformists were Methodist or Bible Christian. The jurisdictional boundaries for these groups does not coincide with those of the Anglican parish. Records will usually be found in the circuits of St Austell, Bodmin, and Liskeard.

Genealogy and History Websites
Extensive information specific to the parish is found on the GENUKI pages for St Winnow at http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Cornwall/StWinnow/index.html

One should also note the links on the main page for Cornwall, as well as an overview of Cornish research on the sub-heading page of this wiki at https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Cornwall_Genealogy