GWENNAP— GWITHIAN there is nothing specially notable in Gwennap Church. Gwinear (Gwinear Road Station) bears the name of St. Winear or Fingar, Latinised into Wynnerus, who seems to have reached Corn- wall from Ireland in the later years of the fifth century, in company with Breaca, la, Germoc and others ; it is said that he was killed by the Cornish Tewdrig or Theodore. The plan of the church, which is finely situated, is irregular and unusual; it consists of nave and chancel, with N. aisle of almost equal length, and a S. aisle considerably smaller, more like a transept; while added to the N. aisle is a still smaller transept-like chapel, with a separate entrance. The chancel is early Dec, the nave and aisles late Perp.; but there are traces of Norm, work, pointing to an earlier building. The tower is combined Dec. and Perp.; the Dec. chancel window, five lights, mullioned, is a very good specimen. Gwithian{h m.N.E.ofHayle) embodies the name of a saint who was massacred at the same time as Gwinear; the name became corrupted to Gothian, and as such specially applies to the little oratory discovered in the sands not far from this spot. This oratory was clearly the precursor of the present church, moved from the original site (as was the case at Perranza- buloe) to escape from the encroaching sand. But this sand has been at least as preservative as destructive. W. C. Borlase regards these ora- tories, Piran's and Gothian's, to be the earliest 123
