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Author: langbot
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English[en]
In AD 930 the Saxon King Athelstan arrived in St Buryan on his way to fight the Danes on the Isles of Scilly. Finding a well organised Christian community he took communion and vowed that, if he won his battle on the islands, he would build a church in thanks on the site of Buriana’s oratory. He was successful, and the church was built. This King’s free church consisted of Canons Augustine or regular priests, and three prebendaries who might enjoy the revenues but must not marry. The Romanesque arches on the north side of the sanctuary are all that remains of Athelstan’s church. Nothing remains of St Buriana’s small 5th Century Prayer Oratory, but the Churchyard Cross was probably erected to mark this enclosure as consecrated ground. It consists of a 10th century cross head set in a monolithic granite base, mounted on to an 18th century medieval stepped pedestal. One side of the cross shows the crucifixion and the other side five hemispheres, a common symbol for the five wounds of our Lord. Restoration of the Cross was entirely funded by a grant from Historic England. The church has a very fine four-stage granite Tower which, at 28m high, is visible for miles across the Cornish landscape. It was used for centuries by seamen and shipping as a major landmark. Four-stage towers are rare in Cornwall and found in only five places: the others are in Fowey, St Columb, St Ives and Linkinhorne. The beacon turret was used to warn of impending invasions such as the Spanish Armada. The Tower was completed in 1501 after taking 21 years to build using local Lamorna cut granite. Some stones weigh over two tons each and give the tower massive strength. Even with all our heavy bells swinging in the same direction the tower only moves 0.127mm. There are six heavy bells hanging in our church tower. The four middle-weight bells are on the top floor, with the Tenor and Treble bells resting below. The ringing chamber is on the floor directly below them. The smallest bell, the Treble, has a diameter of 91.4cm and weighs over 457 kilos, making it the fifth heaviest treble bell in the world. The largest bell, the Tenor, has a diameter of 1.49m, and weighs over 1880 kilos. Together, they form the heaviest ring of six bells in the world. St Buryan’s church has approximately 3,000 visitors annually. It is also used daily by the village community as a place of worship and a meeting point in the heart of the community. Here people gather for weekly worship, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and festivals. There are less usual events such as tower tours, cream teas and a monthly book and jig-saw exchange.
Cornish[kw]
Y’n vledhen 930, y trehedhas Eglosveryan an myghtern sowsnek Athelstan, war y fordh dhe vatalyas orth an Dhanyon war Syllan. Yn-dann gavos kemeneth Gristyon hag o restrys yn ta, an myghtern a gomunyas ha lia: mar kwaynnya ev y gas war Enesek Syllan, y trehavsa eglos war le oratri Sen Beryan. Ev a sewenas, ha drehevys veu an eglos. Yn eglos an myghtern ma yth esa Chenons Augustine po pronteryon gemmyn, ha tri chenon a allsa degemeres rann a’n rentys mes bos difennys dhe dhemedhi. Nyns eus gesys tra vyth a eglos Athelstan marnas an gwaregow romanek a-gledhbarth a’n sentri. Heb mar, nyns eus gesys tra vyth a oratri byghan Sen Beryan a’n pympes kansvledhen, mes gwirhaval yw bos an Grows Korflan drehevys rag merkya an lann ma avel dor sans. Yma penn krows a’n degves kansbledhen stegys yn sel rowan unnmenek, gans oll drehevys a-ugh gradhow growan kowrek a’n etegves kansbledhen. An eyl tu a’n grows a dhiskwedh an krowsyans, ha war y gila yma pymp hantergelgh, arwodh gemmyn a’n pymp goli a Grist. An eglos a’s teves tour growan pur deg, 28m y ughelder, hag yw drehevys yn peder rann. Drefen y ughelder meur, gweladow yw dhyworth mildiryow a-dreus dhe’n powdir. Ytho, ev re beu usys dres kansvledhynnyow gans marners avel tirnos posek. Tanow orth niver yw touryow a beder rann yn Kernow: nyns yns i kevys marnas yn pymp tyller – an re erel yw Fowydh, Pluwgolom Veur, Porth Ia, ha Lanngenhorn. An tourik tansys o usys rag gwarnya a omsettyansow degynsywek, kepar ha’n Lu Lestri Meur a Spayn. Kowlwrys veu an tour yn 1501, wosa 21 bledhen, y dhrehevyans ow kul devnydh a rowan dhyworth Nansmornow. Nebes a’y veyn a boos moy es dew donnas, ha hemma a re dhe’n tour krevder kowrek. Ha kyn leskko oll a’n klegh meur war-barth y’n keth tu, ny wra gwaya an tour marnas 0.127mm. Yma hwegh klogh poos ow kregi y’n tour. Yma peswar klogh, kresek aga foos, war an leur gwartha, gans an klogh Tenor ha’n klogh Trebyl yn-danna. Yma an chambour seni war an leur yn-dann an klegh. An byghanna klogh, an Trebyl, a’n jeves les a 91.4cm ha poos a 457kg: yth yw an pympes poossa klogh trebyl y’n bys. An brassa klogh, an Tenor, a’n jeves les a 1.49m ha poos a 1880kg. Ytho, yma dhe’n eglos an poossa kevres a hwegh klogh y’n bys. Pub bledhen, y teu dhe Eglos Sen Beryan ogas ha 3,000 godriger. Heb mar, an eglos usys yw, pub dydh oll, gans kemeneth an dreveglos avel le a wordhyans hag avel kuntellva yn kres an gemeneth. Tus a omguntel ena rag gordhyans seythennyek, rag besydhyow, rag demedhyansow, rag ynkleudhyansow, ha rag golyow. Yma ynwedh hwarvosow le menowgh, kepar ha tornow a’n tour, teow dehen, ha keschanj misyek a lyvrow hag a wariow mildam.