---
title: "St Mary the Virgin, Par"
description: "Located in Par, Cornwall. Built 1848; consecrated 1849. Diocese of Truro. Grade II*. Early Gothic style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Cornwall","Par","Grade II*","Early Gothic","Street"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-mary-virgin-par"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:28:04.136Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-07T17:48:07.865Z"
location: "Par, Cornwall"
country: "England"
county: "Cornwall"
town: "Par"
address: "St Austell Road, Par, Cornwall, PL24 2EE"
postcode: "PL24 2EE"
built: "1848; consecrated 1849"
consecrated: "1 November 1849"
architect: "G. E. Street"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Mary"]
diocese: "Truro"
grade: "II*"
style: "Early Gothic"
materials: "Pinkish-brown stone rubble and freestone dressings; steep slate roofs"
website: "https://www.parparish.co.uk/"
openingHours: "Open 10am to 4pm."
parish: "Par"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1212089"
gridReference: "SX 058 535"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby"
---

# St Mary the Virgin, Par

St Mary the Virgin at Biscovey, St Austell Road, Par, Cornwall, is a Grade II* Early Gothic parish church of 1848, G. E. Street’s first church, in the Diocese of Truro.

## Overview

The ecclesiastical parish of Par was formed in 1846 from St Blazey and Tywardreath. George Rundle Prynne, the first vicar, commissioned the young Street; Edward Carlyon of Tregrehan gave the land in 1847. Historic England dates the church to 1848 by Street: nave, chancel, south aisle, a squat west-of-aisle tower with broach spire, and a lean-to vestry, in pinkish-brown rubble with freestone dressings. The listing calls it a very early and significant Street design, epitomising the simplicity of the early Ecclesiological movement. The parish records consecration on 1 November 1849.

Pevsner praised a remarkable work for a beginner. Sir John Betjeman wrote that Street never produced a better church than this honest, simple parish church. Original limestone altar, font and pulpit remain in use; stained glass with medallion motifs is by Wailes. In the churchyard south of the chancel stands the Biscovey Stone, an early Christian cross shaft moved here in 1896, and a late medieval wayside cross.

## Further Information

- [Parish of Par](https://www.parparish.co.uk/)
- [Historic England list entry 1212089](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1212089)