Lower part of the medieval shrine of St Endelienta at the E end of the S aisle (Chenduit aisle) of her church at St Endellion, Cornwall, England, UK.
Lower part of the shrine of St Endelienta at the E end of the S aisle (Chenduit aisle) of her church at St Endellion, Cornwall, England, UK. Made around 1400 of catacleuse stone from Harlyn Bay by a mason known as the Master of St Endellion who also carved the holy water stoup by the south door. The shrine base is rectangular with eight deeply recessed niches with flat ogee cusped arches on slender columns (colonnettes). A band of quatrefoils runs around the base. The shrine was defaced in the time of Henry VIII (1509-47) & used in the C19th as a monument over the body of a local landowner (probably John Mathew of Tresunger). Prayer requests are regularly left on the shrine. Endelienta is reputed to have been a daughter of Brychan, legendary King of Brecon, come from Wales to Cornwall as a missionary. She lived as a hermit surviving on the milk from her one cow. The lord of Trentinney killed the cow when it strayed into his grounds and the saint's godfather 'King Arthur' killed the lord: Endelienta promptly restored both lord & cow to life. Following her wishes, her body was placed after death on a sled drawn by one-year-old calves set free to wander. She was buried at the place they chose & a shrine, & subsequently, a church were sited. Two local wells are named after her.
Size: 3802px × 4961px
Location: St Endelienta's Church, St Endellion, Porth Isaac, Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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