St Petroc's Church, Padstow

Padstow’s church marks the start of the 27-mile Cornish Saints Way, which crosses to Fowey on the south coast via several of the county’s interesting old churches‍

Highlights

• Church and former shrine of St Petroc
• Saint’s carved image

St Petroc arrived at Padstow by sea from Wales and founded the first Cornish monastery. The town church still bears his name and contains a medieval carving of the saint in good condition. His original 6th-century church was destroyed by Viking raiders and rebuilt on the same site in Norman times and again in the 15th century.

Against the odds, his image survives in the church, one of only a few medieval images of early Cornish saints still in existence. It is carved into the piscina in the sanctuary wall, to the right of the high altar. The detail is still clear, St Petroc grasping a Bible and his abbot’s crook.

Padstow’s church housed his shrine after his death and was much visited by pilgrims. After Danish raids, he was moved to Bodmin around the year 1000. Two fragments survive from the early monastic church, both Celtic crosses now in the churchyard. One is the head of a four-holed cross, by the church porch. The other is the carved base of a shaft, by the bottom churchyard gate on the way into town.

Another carving in the church stands out, the 14th-century font made of black dolerite stone. It has the Twelve Apostles round the sides, each carrying his symbol.

St Petroc’s credentials are pure Celtic, living as a hermit for much of his life in harmony with the wilderness and wildlife. His emblem is a stag, recalling the animal he protected from hunters.

Directions

St Petroc’s Church

Church Street, Padstow PL28 8BG

www.padstowparishchurch.org.uk

W3W: fulfilled.pints.discloses

GPS: 50.5411N 4.9429W‍

You need to park in Padstow’s large car park on New Street, which is linked to the church by a short footpath. Do not attempt to drive directly to the church through Padstow’s crowded streets. Walk down to the library building in the lowest section of the car park and follow the footpath on the left, which leads directly to the church in 2–3 minutes.

This footpath is also the start of the 27-mile Saints Way pilgrimage route, which ends up at Fowey on the south coast of Cornwall. For full details, including a route map and links to other information see the Cornish Saints' Way.