St Swithin

Piran's early life is somewhat obscure, it is said that he was born in Ireland to the Royal House of Dumnonia, his father being Domuel, a British name, probably Prince Dywel ap Erbin. Some authorities say he was born around 480, others say he died around then, but all agree that he lived to a ripe old age. Legend---has it that he lived for 250 years!

The facts seem to be that at a very early age he moved to South Wales and received religious schooling at St. Cadog's monastery, in Llancarfon, here Piran met St. Finnian who was to prove a great influence to the young monk, both Finnian and Piran's mother being Irish was enough to bring them together. At the end of his training both Piran and Finnian returned to Ireland, before going, however, Piran founded a church in modern day Cardiff. Once back in their homeland Finnian founded six monasteries, his most famous one being at Clonard in Meath. This was where Piran lived before moving on to Aran Island to live with St. Enda, he then went to Scattery Island to be with St. Senan before he started his own monastery at Clonmacnoise, considered to be Ireland's University.

Piran was reputedly a great healer, it was said he could raise soldiers from the dead after battle and bring hounds back to life after being killed in the hunt. Jealous of his power and influence the pagan kings and chiefs captured him tying a millstone around his neck and threw him from a high cliff into the sea, Piran calmly climbed aboard the stone and floated across the sea to Cornwall. Scholars argue that what happened was being banished by the pagans Piran sailed across the sea in a coracle with a blessed alter stone used as ballast. However, whatever way he got there, Piran landed safely on Perran Beach, Perran is the Welsh way of spelling his name, and built a small oratory on Penhale Sands at PerranZabuloe, or St. Perran in the Sands, where he performed many miracles and converted the people to the ways of Christ.

It was his popularity with the local tin miners that made Piran one of Cornwall's Patron Saints, it is said that although the Romans mined for tin there the skill had died out until Piran building himself a fireplace used a large black rock as a hearthstone, the heat from the fire melted the tin inside it, the molten tin formed a silver cross on the stone's surface, this was seen as a sign of God's love and it also reminded the local people of the wealth beneath their feet, thus a great industry was reborn. The silver, or white cross on a background is still the Cornish flag and emblem.

Piran liked a drink, it is said after a particularly heavy celebration the good Saint fell into a well, which was promptly named after him. The expression "He's as drunk as a Perraner' is still used in Cornwall to this day. Piran found churches at Perran-Uthno and Perran-Arworthal and a chapel at Tintagel. His well, the "Venton Barren" was at Probus. He was supposed to have visited Brittany where he stayed with St. Cai. Slightly more fanciful is the story that King Arthur made Piran his chaplain and when the Saxons threw out Sanson, the Archbishop of York, the King appointed Piran in his place. It is doubtful that he ever visited his See. Tradition has it that Piran died in his little hermitage, in the early Spring, although Launceston Church Calendar suggests he died in November. His relics were a great draw to pilgrims, but the sands were covering his grave so they were translated to the Parish Church of PerranZabuloe, which was built to house them.

John Hayward.