St Olaf's Parish Church
History
St Olaf's Church is one of the evangelical parishes of the Diocese of Truro, where the emphasis is placed on the Word rather than the Sacrament. Details of the Sunday Services can be found via this link.
The church building is of exceptional interest and dates from the 14th century. More information about the parish church can be found on the Inside and Outside the Building page.
The church's dedication is unusual - to the Norwegian King and Martyr, St Olaf. Olaf, or Olave, was king of Norway 1015-30. He was an adventurous autocrat who spared neither himself nor anyone else in his attempts to secure national unity; he was enthusiastic in his support for Christianity in Scandinavia and vigorous in repressing any revivals of paganism, offering his subjects the simple alternative 'Be baptised or fight!' His uncompromising severity caused a rebellion and he had to flee to Russia, but returned a year later at the head of a large army and fell in battle at Trondhjem. He is usually depicted as a king holding a battle axe.
The church building is of exceptional interest and dates from the 14th Century. It is large for the area, and can seat about 300 persons.
At the restoration in 1928 the foundations of the original Norman Church were uncovered but nothing of this remains above ground.
The Parish of Poughill is pronounced Poffil and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Prior to 1876 the church was in the Diocese of Exeter, but when the Diocese of Truro was formed, it became part of that and is in the Deanery of Stratton.