St. Mary Magdalene's Church in Launceston features unique carved granite blocks on its exterior. Dating back to the 12th century, the current building (1511-1524) was erected by Sir Henry Trecarrel in memory of his son. After the dissolution of Launceston Priory in 1539, the Corporation took over management. Various repairs and additions ensued, including a west end gallery in 1718 and a restoration in 1894 under John Dando Sedding's plans. Notable features include a memorial to Thomas Prockter Ching and a Gothic Rood Screen by the Pinwill sisters.
The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.
Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe.