St. Clederus Chapel and Holy Well
Clederus Chapel and Holy Well
By happy coincidence I chose Saturday 5th May 2007 to take a walk from St. Clether to seek out the chapel and holy well of St. Clederus and a couple of Cornish crosses. When I parked by the church, from which a path leads to the chapel, I saw a notice announcing that it was St. Clederus day and that celebrations would be held at the chapel. At the chapel I met Vanda Inman who had dressed the well and chapel. I am grateful to her helpful booklet for the following information. Clederus was one of 24 children of Welsh King Brychan; others founded churches at St. Endellion, St. Minver and Morwenstow (and many others). Unusually, Clederus actually settled at what became St. Clether. Chapel and well were both rebuilt in the 15th and 19th centuries, accounting for their remarkable condition, but the chapel stands on its original footings and the altar is thought to be original. The well is at the north-east corner but then flows under the altar to rise again in the south wall. An impressive and highly atmospheric place in the lovely peaceful valley of the River Inny. Not far away I found two Cornish crosses, both near Basill Manor, a tall one below a stone leat, the other a truncated one on a hedge in a field, close to the road but hidden from it..
More images of St. Clederus Chapel
St. Clederus' holy well, lightly dressed for the day
St.
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St. Clederus Chapel, more images
Clederus Chapel, more images
St. Clement near Truro - See below for St. Clement revisited
Less than two miles from the heart of Truro, St. Clement might be another world entirely. Reached by a quiet and narrow lane, it nestles above the tidal Tresillian River, its wooded banks a haunt of herons. Jane and I revisited after more than thirty years and, for the first time, took a close look at the church. The delightful churchyard is entered through an unusual lych gate, rooms above it and a filled-in coffen stile, like a great granite cattle grid, beneath your feet. The churchyard, itself part of a wildlife project, is full of ancient tomb stones with sentimental inscriptions. Near the south porch is a remarkable survival, an eleven foot high granite pillar, twice used as a 6th century memorial, re-cut as a Celtic Cross and later used as a gate-post. Inside is a pulpit of green serpentine, a 14th century font and a rather touching marble memorial to Samuel Thomas. An easy one mile, sometimes muddy, walk down-river brings you to the village of Malpas and its Heron Inn. A pleasant, but less often muddy, walk up-river brings you to Tresillian village just east of Truro. A walk uphill and across fields brings you to Boscawen Park on the Truro River just on the south side of Truro city centre. There is a small amount of parking at the creek below the church.
St. Clement revisited
Clement revisited