St Bridget's Church, Morvah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Bridget's Church, Morvah |
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St Bridget's Church, Morvah
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| 50°09′44″N 05°38′18″W / 50.16222°N 5.63833°W | |
| OS grid reference | SW402355 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | Bridget of Sweden |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Morvah |
| Deanery | Penwith |
| Archdeaconry | Cornwall |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Bridget's Church, Morvah, is an old parish church located in Morvah, Cornwall, UK. It belongs to the Church of England in the Diocese of Truro. The church was officially allowed to hold services on 22 September 1400. This means it has been a place of worship for over 600 years!
Only the church's tower remains from its original medieval (very old) building. The main parts of the church, called the nave (where people sit) and the chancel (near the altar), were rebuilt in 1828. In 1954, the church was added to the National Heritage List for England. This list helps protect important buildings, and St Bridget's is a Grade II listed building, meaning it's historically significant.
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Who Was Saint Bridget?
The church is thought to be named after Bridget of Sweden, a Swedish saint who became a saint in 1391. However, some historians think the church might actually be named after an older Irish saint.
The Mystery of Saint Bridget
For a long time, people believed the church was dedicated to Bridget of Sweden. This idea became popular after an article in a local newspaper in 1928. But a chapel named after St Bridget was mentioned in 1390, which was a year before Bridget of Sweden became a saint. This makes it a bit of a puzzle!
Many churches along the coast of Cornwall were named after Irish saints. This suggests that the St Bridget at Morvah might actually be Brigid of Kildare. She was an Irish saint who lived much earlier, dying in 525 AD. Brigid of Kildare was named after an old Irish goddess and was very important in the early Celtic church.
Irish Connections
Another clue pointing to an Irish connection is the feast of Lughnasa. This was an old Irish festival that used to be celebrated in Morvah on the first Sunday in August until the mid-1800s. It's now known as Lammas. This festival was a pagan (non-Christian) event, which further suggests a link to ancient Irish traditions.
What Does Morvah Mean?
The name Morvah means "marsh." In the 14th century, a saint named St Morwetha was sometimes mentioned, but she might not have been a real person. Another idea is that Morvah could mean "sea" in the Cornish language, as mor means sea.
Church Bells
The church tower holds three bells. One of these bells is very old, dating back to 1799. The other two bells were added in 1828, when the main parts of the church were rebuilt.
