St. Stephen’s in Brannel is in the hundred of Powder, and hath to the
west Ladock, to the north St. Dennis and Roche, to the east St.
Austell and St. Mewan, to the south St. Probus and Creed. This church
and the two following ones are dedicated to the famous protomartyr St.
Stephen, and have their different adjuncts, to distinguish them the
one from the other.
As it is a rectory, it is with St. Denis a daughter church to St.
Michael Carhays, and valued, together with it, in the King’s Book, at
£27. 0_s._ 0_d._, but as it hath a vicarage joined with it likewise,
it is the mother church to St. Dennis, and valued with it in the
King’s Book, at £14. The rectory and vicarage have both the same
patron, Thomas Pitt, esq. (purchased by governor Pitt, from the heirs
and assigns of John Tanner, esq.); and at this time the same
incumbent, Mr. William Sutton; who keeps a curate here, at present Mr.
William Wood, junior, to serve this church and St. Denis, and makes it
up to him (I speak it to his praise) the best curacy in this county.
I shall begin with that great manor, from whence this parish hath its
adjunct of distinction.