With a strong local background of legends surrounding St Piran, and based on a story collected from a local worthy and her daughter, The Bolingey Troyl Band of Perranzabuloe performed this mummers play called ‘St Piran and the Lost Church', written by Jen White and other members of The Bolingey Troyl Band, at the Gol Sen Peran 2003, a the parish feast held to celebrate the memory of St Piran on the Friday nearest to his special day, 5 th March.   The Cast: The cast of the play includes a tin-miner, farmer's wife, fisherman, rat catcher, church warden, bal maiden (woman who grades tin ore), and wrecker (person who scavenges shipwrecks). The Play: The play opens with a series of scenes in which local characters discuss whether any of them have been up to the Church lately to check on its condition. It seems no-one has had time as they have had too many celebrations with a good catch of fish, a wreck, and a party. So no-one knows whether the roof has survived the storm and is flooded and full of rats. Even Piran got lost on the mist and couldn't find it. In the next scene the locals are having a drink or two with Piran when a messenger arrives from the Bishop announcing his imminent arrival. Panic ensues. Everyone tries to remember where they last saw the Church and scurry around trying to find it. Piran discovers it first when he falls through the roof which had been covered in sand. The crowd then wildly start trying to dig out the Church. In the midst of all this activity the Bishop arrives and asks for an explanation for the neglected state of the Church. St Piran, thinking fast, explains that they had heard there was going to be an invasion and in order to protect the Church from damage they had buried it for safekeeping. The Bishop is so impressed with this dedication to duty that he calls for a celebration and they all give three cheers for ST PIRAN! Background to the Play:

St Piran is regarded by many as the patron saint of Cornwall. Legend has it that in the 6 th century he sailed over from Ireland on a millstone and landed on the beach near the village which bears his name, Perranporth, the bay or cove or Piran. He staggered up the beach into the sand-dunes, or towans, where he established his oratory and gathered many converts to his Christian faith. The Parish is now called Perranzabuloe, meaning “Perran in the sands”. After great storms his church eventually became buried in the sand and was only re-discovered in 1835 which is why the inhabitants talk of “The Lost Church”. He also reputedly discovered the method of smelting it which he taught to the Cornish, thus helping them to become more wealthy. For this reason he is also the patron saint of tin miners. Another story about St Piran and his followers is that they enjoyed their ale. The expression “As drunk as a Perraner” has been handed down from this time.

This information was kindly donated to An Daras by the Bolingey Troyl Band.