St Piran

St Piran is a typical example of a legendary Cornish saint. His name is first recorded in 960 at Perranzabuloe, a name that means ‘Piran in the sand’, where the church was later believed to contain his bones. In the 12th or 13th century a Life of him was written in Latin for the church or for Exeter Cathedral, to which it belonged. The author of Life believed that Piran was identical with a similarly named Irish saint, St Ciáran, so he took Ciáran’s Life and made it the basis of Piran’s. He stated that Piran was a saint from Ireland who became a bishop, eventually sailed to Cornwall, made his home there, did many miracles, and died on 5 March.