The excavation of St Piran's Church 2005

Although this is primarily a political blog, I am going to use it to plug my latest publication which has been produced in partnership with the St Piran Trust.

The Trust is a local charity which is working to protect and enhance archaeological monuments in Perranzabuloe Parish associated with the name of our national saint Piran. These sites include St Piran's Oratory and the later medieval St Piran's Church, both situated in the dunes on Gear Sands to the east of Perranporth, and Perran Round - a well-preserved plen an gwary.

St Piran's Church served as the local Parish Church until 1804-1805 when, due to ongoing problems with the encroachment of sand, a new church was built about two miles inland. Much of the fabric of the Church was removed and used in the new structure and the medieval remains left to the sands which soon covered them.

In 2005, I was very fortunate. through my work as an archaeologist with Cornwall County Council's Historic Environment Service, to lead an excavation on the site. We consider that the excavation to have been a considerable success and local people can once again view and appreciate the remains of the Church that once held the relics of St Piran.

The new 28 page full-colour A4 booklet summaries the findings of the excavation, tells the story of St Piran and explains the history of the three archaeological sites.

It is available from the St Piran Trust at Rosenwynn, Chapel Hill, Bolingey, Perranporth. The cost is £3.50 plus 50p postage and packing. Cheques should be made payable to the St Piran Trust and all monies raised from the sale of the booklet will be used for the upkeep of the excavated Church.