Above and below the broad and wonderful beaches of Newquay lie two of the most fas
i cinating places in North Corn,
wall. At Perranporth, a short
distance away cross wild sand dunes and scrub grass (which 1 feel would suit the White Fathers as a training ground for N. African missionaries) stands the 6th century oratory of St. Piran.
So often has this amazing little church been buried completely in the sand that the kindly Ministry of Works has covered it with a concrete shell. Even crossing the sand dunes to find it (unless you cheat and go by road) is a pleasantly hazardous undertaking.
On the other side of New
quay is Lanherne St. Mawgan, /. ancient convent and chapel in a
haven of peace. where it is said 5 that the sanctuary lamp has never been extinguished since 5 long before the Reformation.
This is the oldest Carmelite ,,•/ nunnery in England. The ss
5
chapel along with the nearby C. of F. church provi4e a feast of Celtic-Catholic history.
I was reminded of these peaceful holiday discoveries when a really delightful and worthy-ofnote guidebook arrived in the office this week. "The Catholic Wayside Guide to the West Country and Wales" has been written with "pilgrim staff in one hand, swimsuit in the other".
It records briefly and. at least in the places I am acquainted with, accurately. It covers churches. cathedrals, shrines, wells, lepers' chapels. abbeys and minsters, martyrs' homes. windows. in fact all the components of history.
Editors of the hook arc Pamela Kitchener and Valerie Leaf. Foreword is by Michael de In Bedoyere. The book can he obtained from Catholic Wayside Guide, 13 and 14 Fore Street, Hartland. N. Devon.
Price: 5s. per copy. M.C.