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 “On Sunday (30th) the bells of Old St Uny, Lelant rang out to call ‘one and all’ to celebrate the life of the Patron Saint of Lelant. It was fantastic to hear the full peal ringing out over the Estuary.....
writes John Culver
The Feast of St Uny, traditionally held on the Sunday nearest the first of February, celebrates the date of Uny’s martyrdom, though, since the reformation, all details have been lost. Before then it was the tradition that the Book of the life of St Uny was read to the congregation on this patronal festival, a task reputed to last several hours! The people of Lelant have been coming to this service for more than 830 years and on Sunday the congregation of over 60 were joined by the St Ives Civic Party, (pictured) which included the Mayor, Councillor Yvonne Watson and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Joan Tanner, with their consorts.
The Revd Tony Seymour, conducting his first Feast service, welcomed everyone and his sermon dwelt on the wonders of God’s creation and faith. Three traditional Feast Hymns were sung, starting with The Hymn of the Cornish Saints. The sight of the Town’s silver maces, dated 1641, lying on the Lady Chapel Altar, led one to ponder if they came to this same place in their first year, and if so what the congregation would have been like then. They probably would not have come again during the next eight years of the Civil War, with St Ives being for Parliament and Lelant Royalist!
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