Withiel

St Clement’s Church is a Grade I listed building that has stood at the heart of Withiel since the 13th century. The nave and chancel date largely from the 14th century, with substantial additions in the 15th and early 16th centuries — a granite tower, a spacious south aisle, and a smaller north aisle used as a private chapel by the Bevilles of Brynn Manor.

The late medieval font, dating to 1478, bears the anchor of St Clement — the earliest recorded reference to the church’s dedication, possibly associated with a prior cleric who had served at St Clement Danes. Fragments of 15th-century stained glass survive in the east window of the south aisle, including the arms of Prior Vivian of Bodmin, who served as rector here from 1523 to 1533.

By the early 19th century the church had fallen into disrepair, and a major restoration was undertaken in 1819–1820 at the sole expense of Sir Vyell Vyvyan of Trelowarren. The Vyvyan family held the rectory for generations, collectively serving the parish for half a century. Members of the Vyvyan family, including the Rev. Sir Vyell Donnithorne Vyvyan, 9th Baronet, shaped parish life for much of the Victorian era.

The church recently benefited from a new roof — a testament to the fundraising dedication of the local community. It is also one of twelve official stamping churches on the Saints’ Way pilgrimage passport, welcoming walkers travelling from Padstow to Fowey.

The village hall at Saints View is the living heart of Withiel’s community life — the place where the parish gathers for everything from pantomimes to parish council meetings. Sitting alongside the children’s play area and sports field, it forms a true community campus for all ages.

Over the course of the year, the hall hosts a wide range of activities. The Women’s Institute meets here on the first Friday of each month. During the Flower and Art Festival, the hall is transformed into a gallery showcasing the work of local artists, potters and sculptors. The Withiel Parish Council holds its regular monthly meetings here, and the hall is available for hire for private functions, classes and events.

Community traditions bring the village together throughout the year — the popular summer barbecue and duck race at Whitehay, an annual cricket match open to all, and the hugely popular winter pantomime that the hall is perhaps most famous for. These events reflect a community spirit that Withiel is rightly known for.

For bookings: secretary@withielvillagehall.co.uk  ·  Saints View, Withiel, Bodmin, PL30 5NN

Withiel occupies a quietly strategic position in the Cornish landscape — just north of the geographic centre of Cornwall. This central position has given the parish a unique character, touched by the history of the whole peninsula rather than the particular character of coast or moor.

The village sits approximately six miles from Bodmin and seven miles from Wadebridge, making both towns readily accessible for schools, shops, supermarkets and services. The A30 — Cornwall’s primary artery — is close by, approached from Victoria (Cornwall Services). Despite this connectivity, Withiel is reached by a network of narrow Cornish lanes that have kept it perfectly, peacefully unspoilt.

The River Ruthern rises near Victoria in the parish of Roche and flows northward through Withiel before joining the River Camel. Its valley is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, sheltering otters and rare flora in wooded water meadows — the same beautiful corridor the Saints’ Way follows on its crossing of the parish. The wider parish covers 3,093 acres on the southern slope of the Ruthern River valley, encompassing the hamlets of Withielgoose, Retire, Tregawne, and the village of Ruthernbridge.