 A church has stood on the current site of St. Buryan's Church since ca.930 A.D. when King Athelstan stopped to pray at St. Buriana's chapel, of which little now remains, during his conquest of Cornwall prior to his campaign against the Scilly Isles. He vowed to erect a college of clergy where the oratory stood if God blessed his expedition with success. Upon his triumphant return, having subdued Scilly, Athelstan endowed a church in honour of St. Buriana with a charter that established St. Buryan as one of the earliest monasteries in Cornwall
The church, as we see it to-day, is for the most part of the 15th Century, but portions of it are probably later even than that, and should perhaps be dated in the second half of the 16th Century. But there is an exception to this late date in a portion of the north wall of the chancel, where a rude semicircular arch, set in rubble masonry and enclosing a smaller arch, is at least three centuries earlier in date.
A 10th Century ancient cross is most prominent in front of the church entrance on a large pedestal of stones.
About St. Buryan Church and Cross
Wikipedia: St. Buryan's Church
West Penwith Resources: St. Buryan
Wikipedia: Buriana
Journey to St. Buryan Church and Cross
St. Buryan Church and Cross are located on the B3283 in the West Penwith village of St. Buryan in Cornwall.
Ordnance Survey Map (SW409257)
Visitors Information
Visitors information for St. Buryan Church and Cross may be found at the geograph.org.uk
website. General Cornwall tourist information may be found at the Visit Cornwall website.
Additional Photos of St. Buryan Church and Cross
St. Buryan Church
St. Buryan Church and 10th Century Ancient Cross
Sundial on Exterior of St. Buryan Church
One of Two Tapestries of St. Buriana in St. Buryan Church
One of Two Tapestries of St. Buriana in St. Buryan Church
Portion of 12th Century North Wall of the Chancel in St. Buryan Church
10th Century Ancient Cross in Front of St. Buryan Church
Close-Up of Front of 10th Century Ancient Cross in Front of St. Buryan Church
Close-Up of Back of 10th Century Ancient Cross in Front of St. Buryan Church
Directions and Distances from St. Buryan to Neighboring Towns and Villages
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