St Constantine's Holywell, St Merryn, nr Padstow, Cornwall

There is a public footpath across the golf course to the church remains and then to the well, if you're coming from opposite the club house on the Constantine to Harlyn road. It was not clearly sign posted which made it confusing to find and annoying to the golfers. Personally, I feel that the owners of the golf course didn't want us using this path as they would make it more obvious as at St Enodocs golf course for Jesus' well. The name Constantine is found twice in Cornwall, one being the parish inbetween Falmouth and Helston, the other being between Newquay and Padstow, in the parish of St Merryn (who not much is known). The church remains is now very overgrown, on my last visit you could walk around it and inside, though now you can only get into the bell tower,,, t'is a ashame! 70 yards north of the church (on a mound) is the holywell (by a little stream) covered by a modern shelter. In the 17th century the well is described "strong built of stone and arched over, the inner part hereof are places or seats for people to sit and wash themselves". There is also a legend that in times of drought, drawing water from this well, rain will shortly follow. The well was overcome by sand in the 18th century and buried 8feet deep. It was excavated in 1911 by archeologist Penrose Williams, by this time the roof had been partly destroyed. when unearthed, the gully was floored with an oaken trough. Mr Williams thought that the well stood on the banks of a small estuary, which was land belonging to the monks of St Petroc. The church of Milton Abbot and chapel of Dunsford in Dveon were also dedicated to St Constantine, as was also a chapel in Illogan near Cambourne. There is a lot of confusion about who Constantine was, being that there was Cornish, Welsh, Irish and Scottish traditions, Though they may have all been the same person. Constantine/Custennyn was a very popular Christian name at the time, but we do know that there was a king of Cornwall who was the father of St Erbin/Ervin, father of St/king Geraint/Gerran, father of St Selevan/Levan/Salomon, father of St Cuby/Cybi. Constantines conversion was by St Petroc, who was at prayer in a secluded spot, when the stag that the king and his soldiers were hunting sought protection. The king full of rage went to strike the saint and became paralysed, his soldiers sought pardon and the king was freed and then was converted along with his soldiers, who then went on an built St Petroc a monastery at where is now Padstow. The now monk, Constantine then went on to Wales to become St Davids student, then to Ireland and then to Scotland and became a martyr as he had wished...

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