Cornwall, My Home - Part 2
by Jon Coe
Jon tells us more about his county of Cornwall and the story of Saint Piran.
- Editor.
In or around the 7th century, a man from the island of Cape Clear off County Cork, Ireland, ventured to Rome. After studying scriptures, he returned to Ireland and was made a Bishop at his monastic settlement Saighir Kieran in the County of Ossary, which is now Kilkenny.
The story goes he was cast out by heathens who were jealous of his powers of healing and his ability to work miracles. From a cliff, they threw him into the sea below with a giant black millstone around his neck. Suddenly there was a clap of thunder, a bolt of lightening and there sat Saint Piran peacefully floating on the millstone in the Atlantic.
Saint Piran made his way across the sea to Cornwall and landed between Newquay and Peranporth at a place which is now called Perranzabuloe. The legend states that he lit a fire upon his giant black millstone and the heat caused smelting to take place. Tin rose to the top forming a white cross. Interestingly, the Cornish flag is a black background with a white cross.
There he built a tin Oratory on the beach in the Irish style of heads of a man, woman and beast around the arched doorway. Legend states that his first disciples were a fox, a badger and a bear. Worshipping took place there until an actual church was built in the 10th century because of the gradual invasion of the sea and sand on the small chapel. The Oratory was excavated in 1835 and throughout the 19th century. Many relics and bones were discovered. Eventually the sea and sand took the church as well. The priest's house continues to stand in the graveyard.
I have fond memories of being a child and visiting a beach with a church on it. When I visited Cornwall two years ago, I was sad to see the church was gone. I've recently discovered that the church is being excavated. Because of my memories of visiting there with my parents, I find happiness in this.
There are many records that Saint Piran did exist and lived to be 206 years of age. (That's right, 206.) There are possible records of his birth in Ireland starting around 506 AD and there is evidence of his activity up into the 8th century.
March 5th, in Cornwall, is the celebration for Saint Piran, the Patron Saint of Tin Miners and the Patron Saint of Cornwall. Saint Piran's Day is also celebrated in two communities in Ireland.
Within an hour drive up the coast from Saint Piran's church is a little town called Tintagel. Here is what is believed to be the ruins of King Arthur's castle where you can clearly see Merlin's cave, dark and ominous, on the beach below. King Arthur existed in the same time frame as Piran. Both men were on a spiritual and holy quest.
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