CLOWANCE— ST. COLUMB MINOR elusion that they commemorate the great Columba of the north. But anything like jumping at conclusions is dangerous in Cornish hagiology. The dedication is almost certainly to the maiden Columba who was martyred in Gaul, The church, possessing chancel, nave, two aisles and two transepts, was restored in 1 867 ; it still retains early Dec. and Perp. features, and some portions are believed to be earlier. An explosion of gunpowder, through the carelessness of some boys, in 1676, did damage, particularly to the chancel. There are good bench-ends and brasses, and a peal of eight bells in the belfry. The old tower was struck by lightning, and the present one was also struck during a storm a few years since. The quadrangular old moated rectory is sup- posed to have been intended for a collegiate building; its church accounts, dating from the sixteenth century, are specially interesting. The old Cornish game of hurling still lingers at St. Columb, which place was also a famous headquarters of wrestling. Hurling was a little like Rugby football, with goals, rules against forward-throwing, etc., but the ball was only carried or hurled, never kicked. iS^. Columb Minor is the mother parish of Newquay, from which it is a little more than 2 miles distant. The handsome late Dec. church has the second highest tower in Corn- wall, but its exquisite bench-ends and rood- screen are gone. In this parish is St. Columb Forth, and the Forth Island or insulated head- 87
