St Piran Procession

Come see St Piran and his disciples, badger, boar and fox. Walk and Sing. Bring a flag and daffodils.

Rumours abound that the relics of St Piran have been found and will be on show at this year’s St Piran’s pilgrimage on the dunes. The saint’s relics were lost at the Reformation; they had included a copper bell and chalice, both of which were said to have been St Piran’s whilst he was at the Oratory. The Oratory claimed to be the oldest Christian building on mainland Britain has in recent years been uncovered from the dunes once again. After the death of St Piran, a casket was made to contain his skull. Pilgrims made the journey from the tenth century to the second church, now also ruined in the dunes. The church became a popular stopping place for pilgrims from Ireland and Wales on their way to Compostela in Spain.

St Piran’s relics were sometimes carried in a procession around Cornwall, and it is understood that they will again be paraded across Penhale Sands on this coming St Piran’s day, Sunday 5th March.

Revd Canon Anne Brown, the current priest for Perranzabuloe, will start the procession from Piran Point, Penhale Sands holiday park, with a blessing at 2pm. The procession will be led by a Cornish piper, St Piran, along with his first disciples, a badger, boar and fox. The Gorsedh Chaplain, Revd Canon Jane Kneebone, will lead prayers at St Piran’s Oratory and the Grand Bard, Pol Hodge, will give an address. Then onto the second church where Trelawny will be sung and traditionally, people leave daffodils at the St Piran’s Cross.

Parking by kind permission of Penhale Sands holiday park