St Piran the Legend.
St Piran was born in Ireland, in the district of Ossary, in the Province of Ostrige. Lugneus was his Father and Laidair his mother, they raised St Piran on the Islet of Cape Clear.
After studying scriptures in Rome he returned and was made Bishop.
His chief monastery in Ireland is called Clonmacnois (Clumaineteno), and fifty monasteries are subject to it, with subject churches.
Saint Piran and Saint Columkille together wrote a gospel, each doing half, and these were two of the number of the twelve apostles who were ordained in Ireland to preach the word of God, and all the monks of Ireland opposed them out of envy."
He came to Cornwall in the 5th century AD and built his little oratory at Perranzabuloe by then he was well into middle age. Around the oratory were other structures and a grave yard of considerable size showing the area was well populated.
He preached throughout the parish at Callestock Veor, Callestock Ruel, bethan Hall, Lambourne and chapel Whidden near St Pirans well. The manor of St Piran adjoined Penkarenow and Reen Wartha to the east and was wholly destroyed by sand.
Piran was reputedly a big man and indeed the headless skeleton of great height was found beneath the alter of the Oratory, no date of his death is recorded but perhaps like Arthur he lives spiritually for all time.
St Piran the Myths.
It is said that in the 5th Century, on the cliffs of Ireland, Irish Chieftains flung St Piran into the sea with a millstone round his neck. He floated across the Celtic sea, and landed on Perran beach. He built a small chapel here on a rocky outcrop which still bears the name of Chapel Rock this is now being rapidly eroded by the relentless pounding sea.
St Piran built his oratory a short distance inland from the cliffs, amongst the dunes and many people came to hear him preach. One night a black stone on his fire leaked a hot white liquid � He had discovered Tin, and through this became the patron saint of tinners. The Myth says he lived to 200 years and was fond of a drink and indeed met his end by falling down a well, drunk. There is saying in the parish today �AS DRUNK AS A PERRANER�
It is said that at his death he received Holy Communion and ordered the relics of the blessed Martin the Abbot which he had brought from Ireland to be buried with him. The saint�s tomb was excavated to find the body wrapped in bark, and the body was moved to the parish Church.
Exeter Cathedral was once the fortunate possessor of one of his arms, while according to an inventory of St Piran's Church Perranzabulo had a reliquary containing his head and a hearse in which his body was placed (for processions).
The Oratory.
A tiny chapel was built here in the 5th century by Piran and it was here that he would preach. Over the years the little chapel measuring 29 feet x 12 feet (9m x 4m) was improved , with stone walls and a round doorway adorned with 3 tiny heads. Inside the thick walls there was a wide ledge, a priests door, and the tiniest of windows to let the light in.
Around the building was found evidence of several small structures and to the south a substantial graveyard. A small lake nearby prevented the sand from overwhelming the site but eventually this drained and the oratory disappeared under a deluge of sand. Lost, but not forgotten, Piran and his tiny oratory were spoken of down the ages.
By the 19th century, gable ends were visible and in 1835 William Mitchell began excavations at the site. He found 3 skeletons beneath the floor, one of tall proportions, but all were headless. In 1910, Dr Dexter found the remains of a woman with a baby in her arms near the door. At the same time a very unattractive concrete cover was built over the remains. Sadly this could not stop the water seeping through and in 1980; the building was again buried, this time deliberately to prevent it from flooding and vandalism. A granite block tops the dune to St Pirans memory. One day it is hoped to return the oratory to the people drained and protected.
The 2nd Church.
With the tide of sand consuming the oratory, the people realised they had to move, and around the 9th century they crossed the stream on to firmer ground and built a church thinking it would be safe as the sands would not cross the water. By the 14th Century St.Piran was very much revered and the church was improved and greatly enlarged. A constant stream of pilgrims visited, showing the church was held in high esteem.
Relics listed in 1281 were kept above the altar and in 1560; Nicholas Roskarrick saw them paraded about Cornwall. By 17555the church was in danger of being �swallowed up by sand�, mining operations having drained away the protecting stream. It was decided to build a third church some distance away. For this reason the windows, pillars and tower were removed and used in the building of the present Perranzabuloe Parish Church which was dedicated in 1805.
The site of the second church can be found on the dunes marked by a Celtic Cross.
The Cornish Flag.
St Pirans flag representing the white of tin on the black rock, has been adopted as the National Flag of Cornwall.