St Materiana's Church

St Materiana's Church is a Norman-style church building located in the Valency River valley near Boscastle in Cornwall. The structure sits nestled among trees and green spaces within Minster Wood, creating a woodland setting for the religious building.

The building was established during the Norman period as a religious site and was originally known as Talkarn. The name later changed to Minster, reflecting the earlier existence of a monastery at this location.

The name comes from Saint Materiana, an early holy figure connected to this place. Today visitors can see how the church serves as a spiritual location for both locals and pilgrims, even though worship practices changed over centuries.

The location sits about half a mile east of Boscastle and is accessible on foot through woodland paths. Visitors should note that the area has experienced flooding in the past, so checking current conditions before visiting is worthwhile.

The building serves as a summer maternity roost for greater horseshoe bats, a species that requires rare breeding spaces. The bat colony represents one of the largest populations of this type in Cornwall.

Location: Cornwall

Location: Forrabury and Minster

Inception: 12 century

Architectural style: Norman architecture

GPS coordinates: 50.68300,-4.67600

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:12