The Patron Saint-The modern spelling of "Altarnun" is in fact wrong. The correct spelling is "Altarnon", meaning the alter of St Non (or Nonna). She was the mother of St David. The Holy Well of St Non is to be found not far from St David's Cathedral in Wales. She is also patron of this parish, Pelynt, near Looe, and Dirinon in Brittany.

Alternon is the church where St Nonna's Alter was preserved. Several legends of Celtic Saints mention the portable stone Alter they used to carry with them.

527-Nonna left her native Wales app. this year.

The Cornish Cross at the entrance of the Churchyard may date from the days of St Nonna (6th Century). Of her church nothing remains.

Alternon the supposed Penponta of the Doomsday Book Survey was granted to Robert, Earl of Mortain and Cornwall, by his brother King William the Conqueror.

Earl William (Robert, Earl of Mortain's son) gave the Rectory of Alternon to his foundation, Saint Peter and Paul's Cluniac Monastery of Montacute in Somerset.

1100-25 The Font, which was originally painted, Piscina bowl and shaft (now in the North Aisle by the Screen) and a portion of a capital built into the north wall of the vestry is all that remains of the Norman Church.

1236-Prior Mark and his convent of Montacute transferred their right in the church at Altarnun to William Briwere, Bishop of Exeter.

1237-The Bishop of Exeter granted Altarnun to the Dean and Chapter.

The 15th century-The building of the present church was begun. The granite is moorstone i.e. stone lying on the moors, unquarried; the pillars, and capitals and bases are one stone each. The other stone used is from the former Norman Church, and from the Mansion of the Trelawney Family one mile to the North of the Church. By tradition the oaks came from the oaks of Trelawney. The family left Trelawney for Trelawne near Looe in the 15th Century, and the old mansion was given for rebuilding the church.

The Tower took over a generation to complete to the pinnacles, which are considerably over 100 feet from the ground. Inside may still be seen the deep padlocks used for scaffolding poles in building. In the second half of the 25th century the Aisles of the church were added, and they retain most of the admirably carved Wagon Roofs, while before the close of the century the two porches were built, and these too have ancient carved roofs.

During the same second part of the 15th century the church was adorned with a beautiful Rood Screen, only a portion of which is still standing. Access to the loft and to the Rood (or Crucifixion figures) was from the stairway in the north wall- the door inside the screen.

1510-1530 Is the date of the 79 richly carved Bench Ends carved by Robert Daye as can bee seen by the inscription on the bench end next to the Font. they depict Religious subjects, Parish Worthies and common sights, and renaissance Designs.

1534-10th August a contract was signed with Richard Dawe for enlarging the Chancel, making the present East Window, a window in the Chancel (now gone), and a new Chancel roof including a "celure" over the High Alter.

1536-The work completed from the contract of 1534 at Michaelmas Richard Dawe and his men were paid "the full sum of 20 marks sterling" £13.6.8d (or £13.34)

1558-John Payne Also Reeve was vicar he became a Martyr and Confessor-tortured in the Tower of London and later executed at Chelmsford on the 2nd April 1582).

1620-Paintings were added near the high altar of the Crucifixion, and our Lord at the Altar (it is not the Last Supper).

1641-Thomas Beard became vicar (Confessor during Commonwealth).

1684-The handsome Jacobean Alter rails were added. The maker being John Gard who was a Carpenter in Launceston.

1699-Lancelot Blackburne vicar (Later became, Dean of Exeter, Bishop of Exeter, and Archbishop of York.

1744-2nd April The Rev. John Wesley was entertained at Trewint in this parish by Mr & Mrs Digory Isbell on his first visit to Cornwall. The snow was thick on the ground, and Mr Isbell guided him over Bodmin Moor.

On the Isbell tomb (on the left, within railings, as you go down the main churchyard path) is inscribed as follows

1791-Lightning struck the Tower. This resulted in the Two west windows and the north one being destroyed.

1795-The widows destroyed by lightning were rebuilt. the sockets of the old mullions may be seen in the sill.

In the South of these widows grows a "specimen of fern", very rare even in the West of England".

1818-Nevil Northney Burnard was born at Altarnon. He was a genius in sculpture and sketching. As a young man he went to London and became famous, dining with Queen Victoria. He carved a marble bust of the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII at 'years of age. One of his best works is " The Laocoon", carved in Cornish slate. He also is the sculptor of the Lander statue at the top of Lemon Street Truro, the head of the Rev John Wesley (over the doorway of the old Methodist Meeting House - just some 200 yards from the church gate), and two headstones in the churchyard one to the west of the Isbell's Tomb, and the other at the north side of the churchyard, to the east of the vicarage garden gate.

It is sad to think that his daughter Lorrie's death at the age of eleven so worked on Burnards mind that he gave up home and interest and became a vagrant. He died in Redruth Workhouse on the 27th November 1878, and was buried in Camborne Churchyard where a headstone over his grave was dedicated at a service on 1st May 1954.

1821-The connection at Altarnon with the Methodists took longer to separate than elsewhere. Samual Hart vicar of Altarnon on answering Visitation Questions this year said "There are no Papists in the Parish, but many Wesleyan Methodists, who for the most part frequent the church".

Indeed , this practice continued in this parish with a few until the year 1934.

1853-The inscription on the tombstone of Jonathan Harris (who died 19th May this year) reads as follows,

1877-When the Bishopric of Truro was founded the patronage was transferred to the dean and chapter of Truro.

1880-Present the present screen was constructed this year which used some wood from the original Rood Screen.

1974-Processional Cross designed by Mr Douglas Edward's, assisted by his sons and elder brother both named Thomas.

Note-The only remains of old glass in the church is the late Medieval fragment in the East Window. It represents St Nonna.

There is a custom (certainly going back 350 years, and probably old established than) in which Altarnon is famous. The priest always celebrates the Holy Eucharist from the East side of the High Altar facing the people. This was universal in the first centuries of the church. The Pope and the vicar of Altarnon have carried it down to the present day when many churches have adopted this venerable custom .