St German's Priory

According to local tradition, a church at St Germans was founded by St Germanus in the 5th century. The earliest documentary evidence, however, relates to the 10th century, when King Athelstan established an episcopal seat here and appointed Conan as bishop of Cornwall, indicating that an important religious community already existed at the site. Royal charters confirmed the monastery’s possession of lands at Landrake and Landulph in 1018, grants originally made by King Edmund; these holdings remained with the community until the Dissolution. In 1042 the Cornish see was transferred to Crediton, and the monastic lands were divided between the monastery and the bishop. The priory church was…

The church is constructed of slatestone rubble with greenstone and sandstone dressings and slate roofs. The simple plan comprises a combined nave and chancel with a south aisle, north transept, and vestry, together with two west towers and a south-west porch between them. Both towers have three stages with embattled parapets. The south-west tower is square and dates to the 15th century, while the 13th century north-west tower rises to an octagonal upper stage. The church has a peal of eight bells.