As Cornwall commemorated its most famous saint, it is sad that so few know why this Christian was forced to flee his homeland to seek sanctuary across the Irish Sea.

Most records and even search engines fail to tell of the courage of this sixth century hermit who dared to rebuke King Aonghus of Munster for having a second wife while still married to his first wife. For criticising this king, he was ordered to be thrown into the sea attached to a large stone, somewhat reminiscent of the way Christians are persecuted by Isis militants in the Middle East today.

While John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, was executed for his condemnation of the king’s adulterous behaviour, Piran was able to flee and ultimately arrived and preached the Christian message to the shores of Cornwall.

Perhaps it is time that those who celebrate the one who brought Christianity to the people of this county so long ago recall the sacrifice he made for upholding Christian values and especially the sanctity of marriage.

In an age where so many marriages fail, where children lack moral and spiritual guidance, it is time that religious leaders, politicians and teachers in the schools promote and teach those divine principles taught in God’s word the Bible like Piran so long ago, even at the risk of being ridiculed by those who no longer believe in an all powerful God.

P M Maplethorpe
Porthleven