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T. F. G. Dexter at St Pirans Oratory, Perranzabuloe, Cornwall. 13th September 1920
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T. F. G. Dexter at St Pirans Oratory, Perranzabuloe, Cornwall. 13th September 1920
Thomas Francis George Dexter (c. 1860-1933), the Antiquarian, standing by the entrance at the Oratory. St Pirans Oratory survives as an early Christian chapel with all four walls standing. It represents the supposed site where St Piran, an Irish saint came ashore and established a Christian centre of worship in the sixth or seventh centuries AD. The site has a documented entry in the Domesday book. There is a small nave, chancel and stone bench around much of the interior plus a cemetery. Situated on Penhale Sands, east of Perranporth, the Oratory has been subject to blown sands over the years. Excavations were carried out in 1835 and 1843 and then railings were erected around the site in the 1890s. In 1910 it was re-excavated and a concrete preserving structure constructed over it. A large number of burials were uncovered during the works. The concrete shell was largely demolished in 1980 and the chapel reburied. The site was re-excavated in 2014-2015. Dexter wrote, amongst other works, St Piran. A Study in Celtic Hagiology and in Cornish Church History (Thesis, University of St Andrews, 1922); A Cornish Legend: The Three Churches Of Perranzabuloe (1923); and The Lost Church (1930s). Photographer: Unknown
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TRURI : PEZot.52
Media ID 19579409
© From the collection of the RIC
Ecclesiastical Penhale Sands Perranporth Religion Religious Site Historian
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The print captures T. F. G. Dexter, the renowned antiquarian, standing proudly by the entrance of St Pirans Oratory in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall on September 13th, 1920. This early Christian chapel stands as a testament to the establishment of a Christian center by St Piran himself in the sixth or seventh centuries AD. The Domesday book even documents its existence. Situated on Penhale Sands east of Perranporth, this historic site has faced challenges over time due to blown sands. Excavations were conducted in 1835 and 1843, followed by the erection of railings around the area in the late 1890s. In an effort to preserve it further, a concrete structure was built over it in 1910 after another excavation revealed numerous burials. Dexter's presence at this sacred location is significant considering his extensive contributions to Celtic hagiology and Cornish church history. His notable works include "St Piran: A Study in Celtic Hagiology and Cornish Church History" (1922), "A Cornish Legend: The Three Churches Of Perranzabuloe" (1923), and "The Lost Church" (1930s). Although we do not know who captured this momentous image, it serves as a visual reminder of both Dexter's dedication to preserving history and St Pirans Oratory's enduring significance as an important religious site throughout centuries past.
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