ST. PIRAN'S CHURCH, CORNWall. BY DR. ALFRED C. FRYER. I send for exhibition two photographs which were taken last summer, in order to show the present condition of the famous Church of Perranzabuloe. This rude stone oratory (25 by 123 ft.), situated in the heart of sandy dunes, may possibly have been built by St. Piran himself, or perhaps, according to the custom of Celtic Christians, a church was built over his remains. For some three centuries it was used for the rites of religion until it was submerged by sand in the eighth or ninth century, not to be seen again until 1835, when the shifting sand disclosed the long-lost relic. Cornwall was first Christianised by Irish and Welsh missionaries, during the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries. These missionaries usually lived in a small cell, with an oratory attached, and it has been pointed out that these oratories correspond exactly with the "Dhamliags" still found in Ireland, and doubtless erected between the fifth to the seventh century. The legendary history states that at the end of the fourth century St. Patrick visited Cornwall on a crusade against Druidism, and finding his efforts successful, returned to Ireland, where, consecrating twelve bishops, he sent them over to complete the good work. St. Piran was one of these. He is said to have crossed the sea on a mill-stone, and landing at St. Ives, proceeded east for eighteen miles, where he settled, built his cell, and began his ministry. St. Piran is now considered the especial guardian of tinners. Professor Müller has suggested that the name may be derived from a Cymric root, par, "to raise" or "dig", and it may be a personification or "apotheosis" of the miner. This little ruin is not only interesting as a monument of British Christianity, which dates from a very early period, but is an instance of a rural church which is over 1,000 years old. These ancient country churches of Western Europe are exceedingly rare, and the Rev. W. S. Lach-Szyrma, M.A., says, "They were, in most parts of Europe, built of perishable materials at that time, or have been nearly all destroyed (accidentally or intentionally) in the lapse of ages";1 and he adds, "It is to be hoped that every care will be taken to preserve these ancient Christian remains existing in England." The church lies nearly east and west, and the entrance was on the south side. The heads which once ornamented this doorway of primitive construction may be seen in the museum at Truro, together with some of the stones of the moulding. On this same side of the church there was once a rude window, and the east was pierced with an altar window and 1 Journal of Royal Institution of Cornwall, vol. ix, p. 55. X AS SA BAER WAT BEADWELL. TOT & I while ag that there had been an interesting disis at Br.iwel, Derbyshire. As soon as possible I went ay and, for want of better conveyance, walked a matter stir the deep snow. On my arrival there I a tu had been partly dug away. The mound was and the birr of the po perty of two landlords, one of them as to have the wale afar unravelled, but the other would at hate is part ached. I examined the composition of the barrow, And as formed of small pieces of limestone and soil (known there th a large rumber of old land snails' shells in it. of the materials of the barrow, which took place ea lame on the spot, three skeletons were discovered. PARADI taited, two of the skeletons were on their Sarg the knees tacked under the chin, and placed within a fees fxed on their edges, and forming three sides Unate, the man who had made the discovery did as T : I them = 2 many stones there were, and the snow was too get at and examine them. The third skeleton was sa kyng at f...ngth on its back, with a stone standing at the head tree at the feet. Only one very rough flint flake was found, and from what I aali gather it was near the two skeletons within the small Ong the ignorance and superstition of the people, the skeletons were terribly broken. As many of the bones as I could get, and the fint, I have now in my possession. A friend and I have been trying to put the fragments of two of the skulls together, but have not been very success. The remaining part of the barrow has quantities of human bones mixed up in it, which, I imagine, are early burials, disturbed for the later interments. As soon as the deep snow has thawed and the weather becomes more favourable I intend paying the site another visit, and shall examine carefully the earth and stones which have been removed from the barrow." The following paper was then read: be place, at some time, in the Giggleswick Museum. I that what I suppose is a stone wedge, found some fifteen yes at He...feld. The latter I send for comparison Tog are th apparently of a kind of slate known in the bed as Can I should like to know if this material is =: By Cams V. Cr. Hesent, sent the following com 12 : This word appears to be connected with caillen. Fr ST. PIRAN'S CHURCH. DESTAL BY DR. ALFLE ! I send for exhibition two photogrEDIA WI = mer, in order to show the present en & The legendary history states tha St. Patrick visited Cornwall his efforts succ ccessful, returned bishops, he sent them over it one of these. He is said tC LTE beer, landing at St. Ives, proceeabar built his cell, and begat L This little rain is not le W. S. Lach-Szyr: built of perisha destroyed (accic adds, "It is to these ancient CL The church l south side. The construc the that it is to be placed, at some time, in the Giggleswick Museum. I enclose with it what I suppose is a stone wedge, found some fifteen or twenty years ago at Hellifield. The latter I send for comparison They are both apparently of a kind of slate known in the neighbourhood as 'Calliard'.' I should like to know if this material is often used." of stone. Rev. Carus V. Collier, Hon. Correspondent, sent the following com munication: NOTES ON A BARROW AT BRADWELL. "I heard a little while ago that there had been an interesting discovery made at Bradwell, Derbyshire. As soon as possible I went over to the place and, for want of better conveyance, walked a matter of about fifteen miles through the deep snow. On my arrival there I saw that a barrow had been partly dug away. The mound was situated on the border of the property of two landlords, one of them very anxious to have the whole affair unravelled, but the other would not have his part touched. I examined the composition of the barrow, and found it formed of small pieces of limestone and soil (known there as yellow earth), with a large number of old land snails' shells in it. During the removal of the materials of the barrow, which took place before I could arrive on the spot, three skeletons were discovered. From the particulars I obtained, two of the skeletons were on their sides, having the knees tucked under the chin, and placed within a low wall of flattish stones fixed on their edges, and forming three sides of a square. Unfortunately, the man who had made the discovery did. not remember how many stones there were, and the snow was too thick for me to get at and examine them. The third skeleton was found lying at full length on its back, with a stone standing at the head and another at the feet. Only one very rough flint flake was found, and from what I could gather it was near the two skeletons within the small cist. Owing to the ignorance and superstition of the people, the skeletons were terribly broken. As many of the bones as I could get, and the flint, I have now in my possession. A friend and I have been trying to put the fragments of two of the skulls together, but have not been very successful. The remaining part of the barrow has quantities of human bones mixed up in it, which, I imagine, are early burials, disturbed for the later interments. As soon as the deep snow has thawed and the weather becomes more favourable I intend paying the site another visit, and shall examine carefully the earth and stones which have been removed from the barrow." The following paper was then read :— 1 This word appears to be connected with caillou, Fr., a flint. ST. PIRAN'S CHURCH, CORNWALL. BY DR. ALFRED C. FRYER. I send for exhibition two photographs which were taken last summer, in order to show the present condition of the famous Church of Perranzabuloe. This rude stone oratory (25 by 121 ft.), situated in the heart of sandy dunes, may possibly have been built by St. Piran himself, or perhaps, according to the custom of Celtic Christians, a church was built over his remains. For some three centuries it was used for the rites of religion until it was submerged by sand in the eighth or ninth century, not to be seen again until 1835, when the shifting sand disclosed the long-lost relic. Cornwall was first Christianised by Irish and Welsh missionaries, during the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries. These missionaries usually lived in a small cell, with an oratory attached, and it has been pointed out that these oratories correspond exactly with the "Dhamliags" still found in Ireland, and doubtless erected between the fifth to the seventh century. 1892 The legendary history states that at the end of the fourth century St. Patrick visited Cornwall on a crusade against Druidism, and finding his efforts successful, returned to Ireland, where, consecrating twelve bishops, he sent them over to complete the good work. St. Piran was one of these. He is said to have crossed the sea on a mill-stone, and landing at St. Ives, proceeded east for eighteen miles, where he settled, built his cell, and began his ministry. St. Piran is now considered the especial guardian of tinners. Professor Müller has suggested that the name may be derived from a Cymric root, par, "to raise” or “dig”, and it may be a personification or "apotheosis" of the miner. This little ruin is not only interesting as a monument of British Christianity, which dates from a very early period, but is an instance of a rural church which is over 1,000 years old. These ancient country churches of Western Europe are exceedingly rare, and the Rev. W. S. Lach-Szyrma, M.A., says, "They were, in most parts of Europe, built of perishable materials at that time, or have been nearly all destroyed (accidentally or intentionally) in the lapse of ages";1 and he adds, "It is to be hoped that every care will be taken to preserve these ancient Christian remains existing in England." The church lies nearly east and west, and the entrance was on the south side. The heads which once ornamented this doorway of primitive be seen in the museum at Truro, together with some of construction may the stones of the moulding. On this same side of the church there was once a rude window, and the east was pierced with an altar window and 1 Journal of Royal Institution of Cornwall, vol. ix, p. 55. 6 |
