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St Piran's Oratory

Heritage Site in Cornwall

England

St Piran's Oratory

Perranporth beach, 1 Overall view from the south side of the bay.
Perranporth beach, 1 Credit: Jonathan Billinger

St Piran's Oratory is a historic site located on the cliffs above the white sands of Perranporth Beach in Cornwall, England. Believed to be the oldest place of Christian worship in mainland Britain, the oratory is dedicated to St Piran, the patron saint of tin miners.

The oratory is a small, rectangular building made of stone and earth, measuring approximately 6.7 meters by 3.2 meters. The structure dates back to the 6th century and is thought to have been used by early Christian settlers for worship and religious ceremonies.

Today, St Piran's Oratory is a protected heritage site and a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can explore the ruins of the oratory, which include the foundations of the building and a small chapel nearby. The site offers stunning views of the surrounding coastline and is a peaceful place to reflect on Cornwall's rich history and religious heritage.

St Piran's Oratory is a significant archaeological and cultural site, representing the early Christian history of Cornwall and the enduring legacy of St Piran.

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St Piran's Oratory Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.365/-5.143 or Grid Reference SW7656. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Perranporth beach, 1 Overall view from the south side of the bay.
Perranporth beach, 1
Overall view from the south side of the bay.
Holiday chalets, Perranzabuloe The southern edge of Perran Sands Holiday Centre.
Holiday chalets, Perranzabuloe
The southern edge of Perran Sands Holiday Centre.
Ramoth Way, Perranporth, Perranzabuloe This private road has seen a lot of recent development and redevelopment including the replacement of a single house with three 3-storey ones seen on the left.
Ramoth Way, Perranporth, Perranzabuloe
This private road has seen a lot of recent development and redevelopment including the replacement of a single house with three 3-storey ones seen on the left.
Stone Stile SW7757 Along the path towards Ellenglaze from the entrance to the Army camp at Mount. Cattle stile. Public footpath 302/3/1 (gold) from Ellenglaze to Trebellan.
Stone Stile SW7757
Along the path towards Ellenglaze from the entrance to the Army camp at Mount. Cattle stile. Public footpath 302/3/1 (gold) from Ellenglaze to Trebellan.
Rose Methodist Church
Rose Methodist Church
Farmland, Perranzabuloe A crop of cauliflowers beside the footpath and farm-road west of Hendravossan.
Farmland, Perranzabuloe
A crop of cauliflowers beside the footpath and farm-road west of Hendravossan.
Farmland, Perranzabuloe A crop of cauliflowers on the hillside to the east of Mount.
Farmland, Perranzabuloe
A crop of cauliflowers on the hillside to the east of Mount.
Stone Cross near to St Piran's Oratory This tall modern cross rises from the dunes south of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7587382">SW7656 : St Piran's Oratory</a> and is certainly not to be confused with the far more ancient <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7587385">SW7756 : St Piran's Cross</a> Looking at the OS map of the area (Penhale Sands), you would think that this cross (and the remains of both the Oratory and church) were on a sandy beach, whereas they are actually all within a grassy, scrubby dune system. Many paths snake around this area and it is very easy to find that you are going along the wrong one!
Stone Cross near to St Piran's Oratory
This tall modern cross rises from the dunes south of SW7656 : St Piran's Oratory and is certainly not to be confused with the far more ancient SW7756 : St Piran's Cross Looking at the OS map of the area (Penhale Sands), you would think that this cross (and the remains of both the Oratory and church) were on a sandy beach, whereas they are actually all within a grassy, scrubby dune system. Many paths snake around this area and it is very easy to find that you are going along the wrong one!
St Piran's Oratory Looking at the remains of St Piran's Oratory on Penhale Sands. This ancient structure dates from as far back as the C6th or C7th. It is surrounded by an ugly concrete protective wall, but access is possible to it.
St Piran's Oratory
Looking at the remains of St Piran's Oratory on Penhale Sands. This ancient structure dates from as far back as the C6th or C7th. It is surrounded by an ugly concrete protective wall, but access is possible to it.
St Piran's Cross This charming old cross is to be found just to the south of the scanty remains of <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7599569">SW7756 : St Piran's Old Church</a> on Penhale Sands. A granite monolith with a pierced wheel-head (the lowest indentation not fully piercing the stone), it is thought to be Cornwall's oldest cross, dating from around the C7th. It was mentioned in a charter of King Edgar in 906 and was considered ancient even at this time. It is associated with St Piran (fl.C5th) who is nowadays the Patron Saint of Cornwall. See also <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7600059">SW7756 : St Piran's Cross near to St Piran's Old Church</a> and <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7600064">SW7756 : St Piran's Cross - rear view</a> and shared description below:
St Piran's Cross
This charming old cross is to be found just to the south of the scanty remains of SW7756 : St Piran's Old Church on Penhale Sands. A granite monolith with a pierced wheel-head (the lowest indentation not fully piercing the stone), it is thought to be Cornwall's oldest cross, dating from around the C7th. It was mentioned in a charter of King Edgar in 906 and was considered ancient even at this time. It is associated with St Piran (fl.C5th) who is nowadays the Patron Saint of Cornwall. See also SW7756 : St Piran's Cross near to St Piran's Old Church and SW7756 : St Piran's Cross - rear view and shared description below:
Path from St Piran's Oratory and Church Looking back to the gate where the path to St Piran's Oratory and Church leaves the lane from Mount to Perranporth.
Path from St Piran's Oratory and Church
Looking back to the gate where the path to St Piran's Oratory and Church leaves the lane from Mount to Perranporth.
St Piran's Oratory - Looking down from the path There are numerous paths criss-crossing the dunes to the east of Perran Beach and finding the ruins of the Oratory can result in going somewhat out of your way if you pick the wrong track (as we did!). We finally came upon this view of the ugly concrete bunker surrounding the ancient monument of St Piran's Oratory.
St Piran's Oratory - Looking down from the path
There are numerous paths criss-crossing the dunes to the east of Perran Beach and finding the ruins of the Oratory can result in going somewhat out of your way if you pick the wrong track (as we did!). We finally came upon this view of the ugly concrete bunker surrounding the ancient monument of St Piran's Oratory.
St Piran's Oratory - Looking down into the interior Looking across the waterlogged nave of the ancient monument of St Piran's Oratory with its altar at the eastern end and entry arch in the south wall. It is thought that St Piran's remains may possibly have been buried beneath the altar.
St Piran's Oratory - Looking down into the interior
Looking across the waterlogged nave of the ancient monument of St Piran's Oratory with its altar at the eastern end and entry arch in the south wall. It is thought that St Piran's remains may possibly have been buried beneath the altar.
St Piran's Oratory - Interior Looking at the altar from the south entrance.
St Piran's Oratory - Interior
Looking at the altar from the south entrance.
St Piran's Old Church - from the west Looking along the length of St Piran's Old Church from the western end.
St Piran's Old Church - from the west
Looking along the length of St Piran's Old Church from the western end.
St Piran's Old Church Looking at the eastern end of St Piran's Old Church where the nave leads to <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7599573">SW7756 : St Piran's Old Church - Chancel</a>
St Piran's Old Church
Looking at the eastern end of St Piran's Old Church where the nave leads to SW7756 : St Piran's Old Church - Chancel
St Piran's Old Church - Chancel Looking from the nave of St Piran's Old Church into the former chancel - the step up in level between the two can be seen in the turf.
St Piran's Old Church - Chancel
Looking from the nave of St Piran's Old Church into the former chancel - the step up in level between the two can be seen in the turf.
St Piran's Oratory - Arch detail A close view of some of the carving on the arched entrance to <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7587382">SW7656 : St Piran's Oratory</a>. This entrance is on the southern side of the C6th/C17th ancient monument within its C20th concrete sarcophagus. According to a C19th account "[the arch is] ornamented with a cat's head carved on the key-stone and a human head on each side at the spring of the arch" - though it would take some imagination to divine such details now.
St Piran's Oratory - Arch detail
A close view of some of the carving on the arched entrance to SW7656 : St Piran's Oratory. This entrance is on the southern side of the C6th/C17th ancient monument within its C20th concrete sarcophagus. According to a C19th account "[the arch is] ornamented with a cat's head carved on the key-stone and a human head on each side at the spring of the arch" - though it would take some imagination to divine such details now.
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St Piran's Oratory is located at Grid Ref: SW7656 (Lat: 50.365, Lng: -5.143)

Unitary Authority: Cornwall

Police Authority: Devon and Cornwall

What 3 Words

///rumbles.teamed.thudding. Near Perranporth, Cornwall

Nearby Locations

St Piran's Oratory

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 50.365,-5.143
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 50.3660547/-5.1493201
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 50.3650021/-5.1496441
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Source: PGS
Lat/Long: 50.3641182/-5.1498662
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Historic: wayside_cross
Lat/Long: 50.3637919/-5.1398546
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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