St German's Priory

Church of St Germanus, St Germans
St German's priory church, St Germans
Basic information
Location	St Germans, Cornwall
Affiliation	Anglican
District	Archdeaconry of Bodmin Diocese of Truro
Country	United Kingdom
Year consecrated	1261
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Parish church
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Norman and Gothic
Materials	Stone and rubble

Coordinates: 50°23′49″N 4°18′32″W / 50.397°N 4.309°W / 50.397; -4.309

St German's Priory is a large Norman church in the village of St Germans in south-east Cornwall, England, UK.

According to a credible tradition the church here was founded by St Germanus himself ca. 430 AD. The first written record however is of Conan being made Bishop in the Church of St German's as a result of King Athelstan's settlement with Cornwall. The fixing of the see here shows that the Celtic monastery was already of great importance. Possession of two holdings of land in the parishes of Landrake ("Landerhtun") and Landulph ("Tinieltun" i.e. Tinnel) was confirmed by King Canute in 1018; they had been granted by King Edmund. Both holdings remained in the monastery's possession until 1538. In 1042 the see was moved to Crediton and the lands of the monastery were divided into two parts, one for the monastery and one (named Cuddenbeak) for the Bishop of Crediton. After the Norman Conquest a college of secular canons was established which is said to have been reconstituted in the time of Bishop Bartholomew (1161–1184) as a college of regular canons.