St. Levan, St. Levan's Well and Baptistry in West Penwith
Levan's Well and Baptistry in West Penwith
St. Levan is believed to have been of an Irish royal house which spread first into Wales and subsequently into Cornwall where Padern carved himself a Dukedom in the 4th century. Levan - originally Selevan - was of the house of Padern and was born in the 6th century, maybe at Boslevan near St. Buryan. Moving to Bodellan by Porthcurno, he founded a cell on the cliffs above Porth Chapel and later a church where the present St. Levan church stands. He is reputed to have been a keen fisherman, this commemorated by a sculpture in the church. After visiting St. Levan church in July 2008, I left the churchyard by the lower lych gate and walked down to Porth Chapel. Still standing on the cliff above the beach are the remains of St. Levan's Baptistry and his Holy Well. The water from the well is apparently still used for baptisms in St. Levan church. Originally there is said to have been a small chapel further down the cliff and in 1931 Reverend Valentine and Dr. Favell unearthed fify or so stone steps leading down to where it stood. The steps are now in use by beachgoers. This is a delightful spot, easily approached from the village. If you approach by the coast path you will find it harder going but well worth it for the superb coastal views.
The Baptistry and Well above Porth Chapel
Walk down from car park by St. Levan church
St. Clether, St.
More in Churches & Holy Sites
St. Materiana
The two best things about Tintagel are the climb to the top of the 'Island' in search of King Arthur and the parish church of St. Materiana, both well away from the tawdry bustle of the tourist-trap village. Its siting is odd, stranded on a clifftop to the west of the town; a whole early settlement must have gone missing here. Inside, a simple Norman granite font stands on a most unusual plinth of small upright slates set in a checker pattern, almost as if architect Sir Edwin Lutyens had designed it as part of one of his unusual garden paths. Wood work in the church is unusual; the reredos appears to be made of old bench ends which carry carvings of the Passion and of local coats of arms. From the clifftop beyond the church you get a view of The Island on which Tintagel Castle stands. As you walk or drive along Church Hill on the way to St. Materiana's church, you pass Tintagel Vicarage, the tiny Fontevrault Chapel, converted from a barn, in its gatehouse, a dovecot in its garden. If you do drive, there are parking spaces close to the church. You can approach Tintagel Castle along the cliff from the church.
St. Materiana, Tintagel
Materiana, Tintagel
St. Mellion, Landrake, Landulph & Botus Fleming
Mellion, Landrake, Landulph & Botus Fleming