---
title: "St Michael, Helston"
description: "Located in Helston, Cornwall. Built 1756–61; restored 1837–38. Diocese of Truro. Grade II*. Georgian classical style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Cornwall","Helston","Grade II*","Georgian","Thomas Edwards","Diocese of Truro"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-michael-helston"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:48:57.893Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T00:33:48.974Z"
location: "Helston, Cornwall"
country: "England"
county: "Cornwall"
town: "Helston"
address: "Church Street, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 8NJ"
postcode: "TR13 8NJ"
built: "1756–61; restored 1837–38"
consecrated: "Opened for worship 18 October 1761"
architect: "Thomas Edwards; restored by George Wightwick"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Michael"]
diocese: "Truro"
grade: "II*"
style: "Georgian classical"
materials: "Elvan ashlar with granite dressings; granite ashlar tower; dry Delabole slate roofs"
website: "http://www.stmichaelschurchhelston.org.uk/"
openingHours: "Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm."
parish: "Helston"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1207743"
gridReference: "SW 658 277"
accessNotes: "Ramp or level access available on request. Non-accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas"
---

# St Michael, Helston

St Michael’s is a Grade II* Georgian parish church on Church Street, Helston, built in 1756–61 by Thomas Edwards of Greenwich after a twelfth-century church was destroyed by fire. It is unusual in Cornwall for its London-classical interior.

## Overview

Historic England records a church on the site of a medieval building destroyed by fire in 1729 (parish and Cornwall Historic Churches Trust give a lightning strike in 1727). Francis, Earl of Godolphin, funded the rebuild. Edwards, a pupil of Nicholas Hawksmoor, designed an aisleless rectangle plus chancel, west tower, central south porch and north chapel, in elvan ashlar with granite dressings and Delabole slate roofs. The foundation stone was laid on 8 May 1756; the church opened on 18 October 1761. The interior has plastered walls, a high coved ceiling with an oval panel of carved arabesques, and a west gallery. George Wightwick restored and extended the church in 1837–38, adding the south porch and north apse with gallery stairs.

In 1970 a fault in the chancel arch closed the church for two years; the present arch dates from that repair, when side galleries, rood screen and pulpit were removed. The granite tower holds eight bells. The churchyard has been closed since the late eighteenth century.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1207743](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1207743)
- [St Michael’s, Helston](http://www.stmichaelschurchhelston.org.uk/)
- [Cornwall Historic Churches Trust](https://www.chct.info/histories/st-michaels-helston/)