A history of cornwall online - through its objects
Customs
Saints, Methodists and Bards
Cornish religious and cultural customs are a mix of the ancient, traditional and revived.
Christianity probably came to Cornwall in the 3rd or 4th century during the Romano-British period. Inscribed stones of the 5th century provide the first evidence of Christianity in Cornwall. It is thought that missionaries, such as St Piran from Ireland spread the religion in Cornwall.
Much of the early Christian art of Cornwall was destroyed during the 16th-century Reformation but there are some survivals such as a 12th-century gilded figure of the crucified Christ from Lostwithiel, and a rare late 15th-century embroidered altar piece from Cothele.
Bible stories have formed the basis of many Cornish dramas. In 1924 a nativity play by Bernard Walke, performed in St Hilary, West Penwith, was broadcast nationally on radio at Christmas—the BBC’s first outside broadcast. It proved so popular with listeners it was repeated in later years.
Methodism, as a form of Christianity that emphasised social justice, held great appeal amongst the working classes of Cornwall. Its founder, John Wesley, preached regularly to the large mining communities of Redruth in the open-air amphitheatre of Gwennap Pit in 1762-89. Large chapels were built through the subscription of congregations and they became the centre of community events as well as places of worship. Chapel teas were occasions where people got together for socialising, sport and music.
The communities that grew up around large industries such as mining and china clay extraction developed other ways of socialising too, such as forming choirs and joining brass and silver bands.
However, there are also very many Cornish feasts and festivals that have origins long before Christianity. Amongst the oldest are May Day celebrations, the most famous of which is the Padstow 'Obby 'Oss (dialect for Hobby Horse) festival which is celebrated on 1 May.
Many other festivals have been revived since the mid-20th century as part of the growing movement to promote the Duchy’s distinctiveness and separate traditions. The Gorsedd Kernow is a celebration of music, poetry, heritage and literature which awards the title of Bard to people who have made an outstanding contribution to Cornish culture.
