The church of Sts Morwenna and John the Baptist at Morwenstow in Cornwall has some of the earliest features still to be seen on any Cornish church, having Norman arches to the south door and a second Norman arch (reused from another church) which was added when the porch was built, probably in the 15th century. Three bays of the north aisle also have Norman arches with zig-zag moulding which you can see in the panorama.

From 1834 to 1875 Morwenstow was the parish of the Reverend Robert S Hawker who wrote what has become known as the Cornish Anthem, ‘The Song of the Western Men’ (also known as ‘Trelawny’).

The Song of the Western Men

A good sword and a trusty hand!

A merry heart and true!

King James’s men shall understand

What Cornish lads can do!

And have they fixed the where and when?

And shall Trelawny die?

Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men

Will know the reason why!

Out spake their Captain brave and bold:

A merry wight was he:-

“If London Tower was Michael’s hold,

We’d set Trelawny free!

“We’ll cross the Tamar, land to land:

The Severn is no stay:

With ‘one and all,’ and hand in hand;

And who shall bid us nay?

“And when we come to London Wall,

A pleasant sight to view,

Come forth! come forth! ye cowards all:

Here’s men as good as you.

“Trelawny he’s in keep and hold:

Trelawny he may die:

But here’s twenty thousand Cornish bold

Will know the reason why!”