St Teath (; kw, Eglostedha) is a
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of Parish (administrative division), administrative parish used for Local government in England, local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below district ...
and
village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...
in north
Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlan ...
, England, in the United Kingdom.
Geography
The village is situated approximately three miles (5 km) southwest of
Camelford
Camelford ( kw, Reskammel) is a town and civil parish in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, situated in the River Camel valley northwest of Bodmin Moor. The town is approximately ten miles (16 km) north of Bodmin and is governed by ...
and seven miles (11 km) northeast of
Wadebridge
Wadebridge (; kw, Ponswad) is a town and civil parish in north Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland ...
. The hamlet of Whitewell lies to the west. The parish population at the 2011 census was 2628. An electoral ward also exists which includes
Delabole
Delabole ( kw, Delyow Boll) is a large village and civil parish in north Cornwall, England, UK. It is situated approximately two miles (3 km) west of Camelford.
The village of Delabole came into existence in the early 20th-century; it is ...
and
St Breward; the population for this ward at the same census was 3,957.
History
Parish church

The
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activitie ...
is dedicated to
Saint Tetha the
Virgin
Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
, a 5th-century companion of
Saint Breaca and supposed daughter of King
Brychan Brycheiniog in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
. The church is a
Grade I protected building consisting of a
Norman core and 15th-century expansions. It is large, with a nave and two aisles. The church was
collegiate until 1545 when the two
prebends were abolished. The church was renovated in 1879, reopening 6 November by the
Bishop of Truro, Edward Benson.
There is a Cornish cross in the cemetery on the other side of the road from the churchyard. An account of it was given in the ''Antiquarian Magazine'', August 1883. Part of it was once used as a footbridge; it was afterwards used in the churchyard wall but the parts were reunited and repaired; both the head and the shaft are ornamented. There is also a cross base in the churchyard.
Anne Jeffries
St Teath was the birthplace in December 1626 of Anne Jeffries, a woman said to have associated with fairies.
Cattle sale and cricket match
The first recorded mention of cricket in Cornwall is an advertisement in the ''
Sherborne Mercury'' on 18 June 1781 for the sale of cattle at St Teath, near
Camelford
Camelford ( kw, Reskammel) is a town and civil parish in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, situated in the River Camel valley northwest of Bodmin Moor. The town is approximately ten miles (16 km) north of Bodmin and is governed by ...
. The advertisement was dated 14 June 1781 and signed by Nathaniel Long.
Whereas the annual sale for cattle at St Teath, near Camelford, Cornwall held at the first Tuesday in July had for several years being rather neglected. This is to inform the publick, that the Gentlemen farmers etc of the neighbourhood will produce a large show of cattle of the said day being the 3rd day of July next.
NB. ''The evening of the same day will be cricketed for a very handsome silver-laced hat.''
20th Century
During
World War 2
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
bombs were dropped twice on or near St Teath, this occurring on consecutive days in August 1940. On the second occasion, 30 August, none of the bombs that were dropped actually exploded.
References
Further reading
*
Maclean, John (1872–79) ''The Parochial and Family History of the Deanery of Trigg Minor''. 3 vols. London: Nichols & Son
External links
Village websiteCornwall Record Office Online Catalogue for St Teath
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Teath
Civil parishes in Cornwall
Villages in Cornwall