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This is our September newsletter.
Quite a lot has been happening since the last newsletter in March.
The Old Church
Without doubt the most exciting
development is that we have started the excavations of the Old Church
– those of you with access to the internet will find details and photographs
on our web site. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH THE EXCAVATION.
SO PLEASE COME ALONG, EVEN IF ONLY FOR AN HOUR. You can drive to
the holiday camp, and then follow the signs to the dig. You can see the site
from where you park, so just head across the dunes in that direction.
Volunteers are coming from all over Cornwall, and we have also had a number
of holiday makers. There is plenty to do, so please try to come.
I am writing this after the first
week of the dig. We have just about taken off the turf from inside the
church and cleared the brush and brambles. In addition, we have completed
one of three test trenches, stretching west from the base of the stone
cross. The trench has identified the level of the old ground level and we
have uncovered the outlines of the wood of coffins that has rotted over the
centuries. We will not disturb the remains of the people buried there, and
once the details of the trench are properly recorded it will be filled in
again.
When you see the site now you see
just how large the church was – indeed, we are wondering whether we will be
able to complete the full excavation in time! SO WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!!
We are also very optimistic that
the work we are doing will result in a better protected church. Although
some people have expressed concerns about the future protection of the site,
whenever I looked at its condition I could not help thinking that it had
begun to get worse in spite of the various efforts over the years to prevent
dilapidation. When you see the cleared interior, you can get a vision of the
way that careful restoration will strengthen the fabric against the erosion
of visitors and the weather. Have a look and see whether you agree, and let
us know your thoughts.
We have had excellent press
coverage, and also the BBC has had a film crew on the dunes for the first
few days of the dig.
We also have copies of Dr Dexter’s
‘A Cornish Legend: The Three Churches of Perranzabuloe’, originally
published in 1923. If you could like a copy, please email Eileen at
eileen@st-piran.com .
The Oratory
Not much news on the Oratory at the
moment. Dave Watson hopes to finish the report on the ground water readings
from the piesometers in the next month or so, and we will then see where
that takes us. As I said in the last letter, it seems from the readings that
our fears that draining the Oratory (if indeed there is now any water to
drain) would affect nearby ecology may be groundless, but Dave will now have
to complete the analysis to confirm this.
We are not sure whether the various
statutory bodies that must agree in principle that excavating the Oratory
would not harm the ecology of the dunes will accept the evidence, but we
hope so. If they do, we then face a daunting task. In many ways the problem
is not so much on the archaeological front, but later, maintaining and
protecting the Oratory. We will not excavate until we are sure we have the
technology and the funds in place.
We have yet to discuss our detailed
plans, as we have learnt from past disappointments to take things one step
at a time. But I hope very soon we will be able to put together a package of
plans that we can disseminate widely to get as many views as possible. Our
work depends on the good will of people, and we try to consult as much as
possible. We understand that there are some people who are concerned that
the work on the sites will lead to further damage, but I am increasingly
convinced that in the case of the Church and the Round we are only making
them better. The case of the Oratory, which is entirely buried, is
different, but I can’t help thinking that something that is well preserved
(if indeed it is well preserved after being buried) but invisible is not as
good as something that is visible – we need to have the resources and the
will to make the excavation work. If you have any ideas, do let us know.
The Round
If you visit the Round you will see
continuing evidence of the improvements we are making with patient clearing.
It really is a spectacular place.
The Trust has started to look at
ways in which we can attract performances again. As usual, the issue is
resources. The support we receive from English Heritage is sufficient for
the time being to maintain the place, but to put on performances is another
matter. My dream has been to stage Beunans Meryasek or one of the other
Cornish plays as a celebration the opening of the Oratory, and who knows,
one day …
*****
So, all in all, we are making
progress, which, considering we receive no substantial public resources, is
encouraging. But our progress is all a part of the Cornish Dasserghi,
and we do our bit. We are taking care of the oldest surviving four walled
Christian edifice on the British mainland; and the best preserved and (in my
opinion) most interesting of the original Playing Places; and both of these
are important national (Cornish and British) sites. Working on the Old
Church will give us experience and credibility, and get our organisation
capable of taking on bigger things.
Perran Penrose
Chairman
Email:
perran@st-piran.com
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