Saint Petroc's Cornish Travels

St. Petroc is said to have landed in Cornwall on a trip from Ireland and spent approximately thirty years in Padstow. He founded his monastery there in the 6th century. He later moved to Bodmin. He gave his name to the Padstow which became known as Petroc's - stow and to ‘Little Petherick which is near Wadebridge. St Petroc was the founder of Bodmin and it was for some time an Abby-Bishopric. It also remained a religious capital and icon of Cornwall through the end of the Middle Ages. The information currently known about St. Petroc generally comes from the translation of "The Vita Petroci" which was written in the 12th century.

He was described as being handsome, courteous, prudent, simpleminded, modest, humble and a cheerful giver, he was credited with ceaseless charity. He was the youngest son of King Glywys in Wales. When his father passed away, St Petroc was offered the crown of part of the kingdom. He respectfully declined as he wanted to study and develop a religious life. He left everything behind and went to Ireland. He stayed in Ireland for approximately twenty years before returning to Britain. He is said to have landed at the mouth of the Camel near Trebetherick during the 6th century. Upon returning he and his congregation took over the Celtic Monastery of Lanwethinoc (the name Lanwethnoc remained long enough to appear in the ‘Doomsday Book'), which had been originally founded by a man named Bishop Wethinoc. The monastery's name changed to Petrocstow, Petroc's Church. St Petroc began building at the top of the creek, first he built a church, then other buildings in order to create a complete Celtic monastery including a school, infirmary, a library and a farm, there were also cells for the monks.

After remaining in Padstow for about thirty years, St Petroc went to Rome and to Brittany. He returned to Britain, however due to a prediction that failed to come true, he felt the need to do penance for presuming to predict the Lord's will. He returned to Rome, then traveled to Jerusalem and on to India where he lived for seven years on an island in the Indian Ocean.

It is said that when a deer, running from a hunter, sought refuge in St Petroc's cell, he protected the deer from the hunter. The hunter was King Constantine of Dumnonia who ruled that quadrant of Cornwall at the time. St Petroc converted the king to Christianity and the king in turn gave full protection to St Petroc. St Petroc again returned to Padstow and again set out from there to either Bothmena or Bodmyia where he met Guron who is said to be a holy hermit, living in his hermitage. Guron left his hermitage to St Petroc who arrived there with three of his fellow saints. The hermitage was near running water and there was a pool as well as many water springs. It was located in a sheltered valley and was surrounded by good agricultural land. The hermitage was enlaged into a Priory that grew not only in size but also in importance. St Petroc became the first Prior of Bodmin.

St Petroc passed away in 594 during a trip between Nanceventon and Lanwethinoc where he was visiting disciples. His belongings including his handbell were used for at least five hundred years after his passing and they were preserved until the Reformation.

Written by Tom Sangers for John Fowler Holiday Parks, provider of a UK Beach Holiday in Cornwall and a caravan holiday in Devon.