The church on Tresco is surprisingly large for such a small island, reflecting its status as the…read morehome of the Tresco Estate, which is still run by the descendants of Augustus Smith, Lord Proprietor of the Scillies in the early 19th Century, and founder of the famous Tresco Abbey gardens. The church was designed by Augustus Smith's nephew, Lt Thomas Algernon Dorrien-Smith, in 1878, and opened by the first Bishop of Truro the following year. The spacious interior has a magnificent wooden roof, glass by Kempe, and a poignant memorial to five Dorrien-Smith sons, who died in World War II. Like the other Scilly churches, it has a lovely graveyard full of exotic plants, and magnificent views.

This was the original church of the island of St Mary's, dating back to the early 12th Century. Its…read moresetting on Old Town Bay is incomparable, and the graveyard contains the grave of former Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. The original cruciform church was built around 1130 when the Normans developed the settlement of Old Town. An Icelandic Saga records that the settlement and church were looted during a Viking raid in 1150. The church was rebuilt in 1660 and a south aisle, west gallery and new windows added. The church was further rebuilt in 1743 when the current east end was added, reducing the size of the building. After considerable deterioration it was rebuilt in 1830 and again restored in 1890. The church today is a lovely place, with a simple single cell and stone altar. The former north porch of 1666 is now a vestry but you can still see an original Norman arched doorway. Also original is the cross dated c.1200 on the East gable. The location is glorious - the terraced graveyard, filled with exotic tropical plants and overlooking Old Town Bay, must be one of the most beautiful in the U.K. It contains the grave of former Prime Minister Harold Wilson, as well as memorials to Augustus Smith (the Lord Provost of the Isles who developed the economy and infrastructure of the Scillies) and victims of various shipwrecks, including the SS Schiller, which sank off the Scillies in 1875. The church is open for visitors and private prayer, and in summer there are Sunday evening services.

This charming church in the north of St Agnes is the third serving the island. Built in 1821, it…read morecomprises a single nave and sanctuary in one, with a small bell tower. The colourful East Window commemorates the lifeboatmen of the island, as does a plaque at the rear of the church: St Agnes was often the first island to learn of, and go to the rescue of ships wrecked on the western rocks. The church is open during daylight hours for visitors and private prayer. The Sunday service is at 9:15.

The main church of the Isles of Scilly was erected by the Lord Proctor of the islands, Augustus…read moreSmith, in 1836-38. A condition of his lease when he acquired the Lordship of the islands, he not only paid for the building but also designed it! The exterior is that of a rather severe neo-Gothic chapel, relieved by having an attractive and robust tower. The interior is a single undivided space, with a west gallery and an odd mixture of collegiate seating facing inwards, as well as more orthodox pews. Notable features include the east window, donated by the grieving husband of a young bride who died in the wreck of the German liner the SS Schiller, which sank with the loss of over 300 lives on the Western Rocks in 1875. Above the west door is a lion taken from the wreck of the "Association", the flagship of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, in 1707. The church is the centre of an active parish life and has traditional Anglican services on Sundays at 7am (Morning Prayer) and 11:00 (Eucharist).

This picturesque little village lies between St Ives & St Just. Well worth a visit is the ancient…read morechurch of St Senera which dates back to the 12th century & is the home of the Zennor Mermaid depicted in the carvings of The Mermaid's Chair, made from old bench ends & is around 600 years old. The story of the legend is beside the chair on the wall.

St. Ia's is a lovely little Anglican-Catholic parish church in the heart of St. Ives and worth a…read moreshort visit. The inside I wouldn't call spectacular, but it has a warm atmosphere to it, and the café will offer you prices that compare favourably to the coffee joints in the neighbourhood. The extremely welcoming volunteers will inform you about the history of the church and St. Ives.