More information about St Just in Penwith and its significance to the Grenfell family can be found on the Parish page.
Inscription reads:
In Memory of Grace the wife of Nicholas Grenfell of this Parish
who departed this life March 23rd 1842 aged 73 years
‘She was suddenly summoned hence, but her lamp was trimmed and her light burning’
Also Capt. Nicholas Grenfell husband of the above who died June 26th 1855 aged 85 years.
Inscription reads:
In Memory of Thomas Grenfell who departed this life December 10th 1837 aged (3)8 years
also Matilda his wife who departed this life July 24th 186(5) aged 57 years
It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 1 Samuel 3:18
In Ever Loving Memory of Martha Grenfell who died at Carallack Terrace, St Just, October 19th 1914 aged 87 years.
Also Pascoe Grenfell husband of the above who died at Coquimbo, Chili, January 28th 1868 aged 45 years.
Also Pascoe Grenfell their son who died at Cromwell, Otago, New Zealand October 7th 1885 aged 3(?) years.
On the base
In Loving Memory of Benjamin Angwin husband of Marguerite Angwin
son-in-law of the above who died at Butte, Montana, USA December 22nd 191(6) aged 80 years.
Also Marguerite Angwin who died January 30th 1942 aged 77 years.
In Loving Memory of Thomas Stanley Grenfell died May 17th 1970 aged 65 years
St Just in Penwith is the geographic origin of the branch of the Grenfell family with which this website is associated. More information on this subject can be found on the Origins of the Grenfell Family Name page.
The town of St Just is the most westerly town in mainland Britain and is situated approximately 8 miles west of Penzance. There is evidence of mining in the area since ancient, pre-industrial times and in the 19th century it became one of the most important mining districts in Cornwall for both copper and tin. However, the mining boom and the increase in the town’s population was equalled by its collapse when the tin market declined.
The parish church is dedicated to St Just and has undergone a few reconstructions over the years. Whilst medieval in origin nothing remains of this version, and only part of the chancel from the church built in 1334 remains. The present church dates back to 15th century. Parish records of St Just list many members of the Grenfell family who were baptised (1600 – 1866), married (1739-1888) and burials (1600-1926)
Within the church is an artifact of interest to the Grenfell family – a White Ensign (see below) which was flown by H.M.S. Revenge during the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. It was given to the church for safe keeping by Captain Russell Grenfell RN. Another notable Grenfell connected to St Just was Edward Charles Grenfell (1870-1941), first Baron St Just, founder of Morgan Grenfell bank and MP for the City of London 1922-1935.
In the town there are also two Non-Conformist Christian Churches – the Wesleyan Methodist Church known as St Just Miner’s Chapel and the Methodist Free Church or St Just Free Church as it is now known. Non-conformist records list a number of members of the Grenfell family who were baptised Wesleyan Methodist (1858-1912), Bible Christian Circuit (1861-1907) and Wesleyan Methodist burials (1849-1912).
Further information about St Just in Penwith can be found on the relevant pages on Cornwall Online Parish Clerks website, the Genuki page dedicated to St Just in Penwith and via Penwith Local History Group.
Richard Nicholas Grenfell d. 1943
Violet May Grenfell d. 1973
Grace Grenfell d. 1842
Nicholas Grenfell d. 1855
William Grenfell d. 1834
Grace Grenfell d. 1848
Ann Tonkin Grenfell d. 1889
Pascoe Grenfell d. 1891
Thomas Grenfell d.1837
Matilda Grenfell d. 186(5)
Elizabeth Grenfell d.1896
Matilda Grenfell d. 1915
Martha Grenfell d. 1914
Pascoe Grenfell d. 1868
Pascoe Grenfell d. 1885
Nanny Grenfell d. 1863
Richard Grenfell
John Thomas Grenfell d. 1961
Elizabeth Ellen Grenfell d. 1970
Thomas Stanley Grenfell d. 1970
More details of these Grenfells can be found on the St Just in Penwith monumental inscriptions page.
This website is dedicated to the memory of Arthur Grenfell Coomb (1929-2022) whose diligence and dedication in researching all aspects of the Grenfell name has made this archive possible. He curated the website for nearly 30 years, collating information from his own research as well as from other dedicated researchers .