Welcome to the internet home of the Online Parish Clerk for the parish of St. Germans, Cornwall
I am Fred Hancock volunteer (OPC) for St. Germans, Tideford, and Hessenford. As an OPC I am making collection of genealogical resources for these parishes available to help with your research. You may Click Here to contact the me by e-mail with your research queries or to share your research with others interested in these parish.
Our online parish register databases have been moved to the Online parish Chest click here or follow the link on the menu at the left of the screen. Please remember to change your bookmarks.
The parish of St Germans is situated in the deanery and Hundred of East; in 1870, it is bounded on the north by Menheniot and Quethiock, on the east by Landrake, St Erney, St Germans Creek and Sheviock, on the south by the sea, and the west by St Martin-by-Looe, Morval and Menheniot. St Germanus was a well known missionary of Auxerre, but there has been some doubt as to whether he was the saint that gave his name to this parish. The village of St Germans is on the lower reaches of the River Tiddy that eventually flows into Plymouth Sound. Prior to the Norman Conquest the Saxon church was the cathedral of Cornwall. After the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century the Eliot family bought the priory, which became known as Port Eliot. Although originally a busy fishing port, the major activity now is pleasure boating. Villages in the parish were Tideford, Hessenford, Minard Cross, Polbathick, and Bethany.
Two parishes were created from parts of this parish in the 19th century: Hessenford in 1834 and Tideford in 1852. Another new parish, that of Deviock, was created from St Germans in 1997.
The Domesday Settlements of Cornwall, a study undertaken by the Cornwall Branch of the Historical Association, has identified and located settlements listed in the Exeter and Exchequer Domesday Survey of AD 1086. The following places have been identified in St Germans ecclesiastical parish: