Cornwall does not furnish stately and richly adorned churches as does Devonshire, and even more so, Somersetshire. This is due to the intractable material available, granite, which unlike that of Brittany did not lend itself to rich sculpture. Only the Elvan stone, already described, could be worked with delicacy, and this is easily corroded by the weather, and the Catacluse stone is black. The beautiful Polyphant stone of Lewannick does not seem to have been largely employed. Although so close to Launceston, when the church there was reconstructed by Sir Henry Trecarrel, in the reign of Henry VIII, he employed only granite, which was sculptured with infinite labour, and with poor effect. [Illustration: Buried Church, Perranporth] The most ancient churches in Cornwall were probably exceedingly rude. Only two of the earliest remain and these are in ruins, Perranporth and St Gothien, very much resembling churches of the most primitive period in Ireland. [Illustration: Norman Doorway, St Germans Church] There are some important remains of Norman architecture, notably the west front and part of the nave of St Germans, some portion of Blisland, the south door of Kilkhampton, the westernmost arches of Morwenstow, Tintagel, and some tympana of doorways with rude sculpture. In many of the churches the early fonts remain. Originally baptisms took place in tanks or barrels sunk in the earth; then, when adult baptisms ceased, square or circular troughs were placed on the floor, and later were raised on pedestals; and not infrequently the pedestal is an addition, at a later date, to the basin of the font itself. Of the Early English period, the remains are scanty. St Anthony in Roseland is the most perfect example in Cornwall. [Illustration: Tympanum, Egloskerry Church] Of the Middle Pointed, or Decorated period, are Padstow, St Columb Major, Sheviock, Lostwithiel--where the very peculiar spire is singularly beautiful and foreign in character--and portions in Lanteglos by Fowey, and St Ive near Liskcard. [Illustration: Lanteglos Church]