As thousands of people get ready to hoist black and white flags to mark Cornwall’s most famous patron saint today, members of the St Piran Trust are launching a crowdfunding appeal to help preserve St Piran’s Oratory.

The uncovering of St Piran’s Oratory, the oldest Christian building in mainland UK, last year has attracted huge numbers of people to visit the site on Gear Sands near Perranporth to experience the Oratory for themselves and feel closer to Cornwall’s patron saint.

However there is still a huge amount of work to be done to preserve this iconic place. The Oratory is currently in water and as an Ancient Scheduled Monument sitting within a Site of Special Scientific Interest there will need to be detailed negotiations with statutory bodies about how the Oratory can be preserved for the long term.

The St Piran’s Trust, which has been campaigning for the Oratory to be uncovered for many years, is now calling on people both in Cornwall and across the world, to support the crowdfunding appeal and ensure that this most iconic of Cornish sites remains accessible to all in perpetuity.

Angela Penrose, Chairperson of the St Piran Trust said; “As St Piran has become a focus for Cornish identity there will be St Piran’s events all over Cornwall and beyond celebrating his special day on Thursday, it seems appropriate to use this day to call for support to maintain the tangible link with this iconic figure.

Donations to the crowdfunding appeal can be made at www.crowdfunder.co.uk