St Clether's Well and Chapel, Launceston

Few natural holy places merit their own pilgrimage better than this exquisite well chapel, which has seen processions by a local bishop in recent years

‍Highlights

• Perfectly preserved medieval well chapel
• Former relic niche of St. Clether
• Immersion well
• Medieval altar slab

This is Celtic veneration at its best: medieval ritual secluded from the world. Water from St. Clether’s holy well flows through a small stone chapel hidden amid trees on the slope of a rocky river valley. At one time, the water flowed over St. Clether’s relics. Although the saint’s body has long gone, the setting remains intact.

The well chapel is a 10-minute walk from the village and parish church of St. Clether. Beautifully restored, it preserves the medieval design and function of the original building. Though the exact date of the chapel’s construction is unknown, it was reorganized in the 15th century to optimize access to the holy water. Apart from the saint’s relics, which were removed during the Reformation, the chapel offers an authentic medieval well experience.

The wellspring, located just outside the chapel, collects in a stone chamber likely designed for bathing. It then flows inside, running behind the altar along a hidden stone channel. A niche behind the altar once housed the saint’s relics, with water still trickling along the recess’s base.

The water emerges in a second chamber in the far wall of the chapel. This chamber once held the holiest water, having been sanctified by contact with the saint’s relics. Accessible only from outside, this water was highly revered, with offerings left by pilgrims on a shelf above. A small door inside the chapel provided the custodian access to these offerings.

It’s likely the upper chamber was used for baptisms and immersion rituals, while the lower chamber’s water was drunk by those seeking healing. Drinking water that had touched relics was a common practice in medieval times.

The chapel’s secluded setting, surrounded by a hedge and trees, adds to its sense of isolation. Though the immersion well is shallow, visitors could still crouch or stand in the water, using it for ritual bathing—a deeply elemental spiritual engagement.

Inside, the chapel remains largely bare, except for a medieval altar slab with five crosses representing Christ’s wounds. One leg of the altar has been shifted to allow access to the relic niche.

Despite its current beauty, the chapel fell into ruin after the Reformation. It was restored in 1895 by Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, a Victorian priest and hymn writer. His interest in early English Christianity was renewed with his 16-volume Lives of the Saints. A further restoration took place in 2009, and today, a book about the chapel’s restoration is available, written by Vanda Inman, a key figure in its preservation.

It’s believed St. Clether’s well chapel may have predated the parish church, which was built to serve a growing community. The church and chapel are a third of a mile apart, with a path winding through the bracken and gorse along the River Inny. The church retains only its Norman tower and font, with the rest rebuilt in 1865.

St. Clether’s personal history is uncertain, but some associate him with St. Cleer, whose church lies 10 miles south. He may have been a son of King Brychan, a Welsh figure who fathered many saints. King Brychan is remembered in Brecon, Wales, and is revered as a saint by some.‍

Footpath starts at: St. Clederus’ Church, St. Clether, Launceston PL15 8QJ‍

www.stcletherholywellchapel.com‍

W3W: horn.blush.fits

GPS: 50.6332N 4.5435W (well)

W3W: hawks.treble.feed

GPS: 50.6314N 4.5389W (church)

Park outside the parish church of St. Clederus in St. Clether village and walk to the well chapel. A sign directs you through the churchyard and along the river valley. The chapel is a 10-minute walk via a footpath and is usually unlocked, as is the parish church.