Eternal Refuge

In Britain there are 4 well-known Patron Saints. However having lived in the county of Cornwall (the most S.W. in England), I have to celebrate St. Piran ... the patron saint of Cornwall.


c. Getty images

Cornwall is also a Duchy (Prince Charles and Camilla and their Duke & Duchess) ... while those who live there like to think of it as a separate county. However if you look ata map, there are 2 rivers separating Cornwall to the rest of England, with only a very short distance that is actually land.

For those who want to read more, then look here

The Cornish National Anthem - Trelawny


And, of course, in Cornish -


( And, now you can sing along .... )

Although I am English I live in the one County that those who are born here, call a separate Country!  

It is officially a Duchy with Prince Charles owning all the land, that isn't privately owned.   That is why Camilla was, on their marriage, given the titile of Duchess of Cornwall.

So, for many of the Cornish, today is a very special day - with the Cornish flag being flown.



This is the flag of St Piran - Saint Piran is the patron saint of tin-miners and is also generally regarded as the national saint of Cornwall. (Saint Piran's Flag is a white cross on a black background.) St Piran's Day is March 5th.   Read more -

St Piran 

There will be gathering around the County - this picture was taken at one of the many gatherings last year - 


Cornwall has it's own National Anthem based on "The Song of the Western Men", by Rev R.S. Hawker (Of Morwentow).  When we have a "Proms in the Park" with our Orchestra this is how we start the concert ... not my National Anthem, as I am not Cornish, but for many today a very important song :-