The rather strange shape of the tower is because it once had a steeple, unusual in Cornwall.

In March 1818, the tower was struck by lightning and it fell on the church with much damage; windows all shattered, altar table split, the tower on fire, the medieval pews destroyed.

It was not possible to rebuild the spire. Two out of the three bells had to be sold to pay for repairs, the tower being reconstructed with two stages and a stair turret, the steeple gone forever.

An anonymous poem survives, (now in the possession of Mr John Keast).

At six in the evening on March 7th 1818:

“The lofty tow’r came quickly toppling down
Its south-east corner from the top to ground
Sculptured cenotaph through lately rear’d an’ sound
Twas knocked asunder, part lay on the ground
Behold! The ponderous stones which from the tower did fly
In many heaps within the church do lie
Broke all before them, even to the ground
That but few pews remain’d unhurt or sound;
And lodg’d deep in the Reverend Pastor’s pew.
It forced its passage through the eastern wall,
And in the earth its vengeance did let fall.
Are we the worst sinners, may repent?
So that ‘twill cost one thousand pounds or more
To raise the shattered structure as before”