“Among the Irish saints, who were somewhat older than St. Patrick, the first and most celebrated is St. Kiaran, whom the Irish style the first-born of their saints. According to some, he was a native of the county of Ossory, according to others, of Cork. Usher places his birth about the year 352. Having received some imperfect information about the Christian faith, at thirty years of age, he took a journey to Rome, that he might be instructed in its heavenly doctrine, and learn faithfully to practice its precepts. He was accompanied home by four holy clerks, who were all afterwards bishops; their names are Lugacius, Columban, Lugad, and Cassan.

“The Irish writers suppose him to have been ordained Bishop at Rome; but what John of Tinmouth affirms seems far more probable, that he was one of the twelve whom St. Patrick consecrated Bishops in Ireland, to assist him in planting the Gospel in that island. For his residence he built himself a cell in a place encompassed with woods, near the water of Fueran, which soon grew into a numerous monastery. A town was afterwards built there, called Saigar, now from the saint Sîer Keran. Here he converted to the faith his family, and his whole clan, which was that of the Osraigs, with many others. Having given the religious veil to his mother, whose name was Lidain, he appointed her a cell or monastery near his own, called by the Irish Ceall Lidain. In his old age, being desirous to prepare himself for his passage to eternity in close retirement, he passed into Cornwall, where he led an eremitical life, near the Severn sea, fifteen miles from Padstow. Certain disciples joined him, and by his words and example, formed themselves to a true spirit of Christian piety and humility. In this place he closed his mortal pilgrimage by a happy death. A town upon the spot is to this

day called from him St. Piran’s in the Sands; and a church is there dedicated to God in his memory, where was formerly a sanctuary near St. Mogun’s church, upon St. Mogun’s Creek.[11] See John of Tinmouth, Usher, &c. collected by Henschenius; also Leland’s Collectanea, published by Hearne, tom. III. pp. 10 and 174.”

It seems to be much more probable, that St. Perran took an active part with the Irish missionaries, perhaps as their chief, since he obtained such great celebrity in this county, than, according to Doctor Butler, that he should have come over to Cornwall in extreme old age, and have done his utmost to render the remaining years of his life utterly useless to the service of his Maker or to mankind. A white cross on a black ground was formerly the banner of St. Perran, and the standard of Cornwall; probably with some allusion to the black ore and the white metal of tin. Capgrave says that St. Perran attained an age exceeding two hundred years.

In the new edition of Dugdale’s Monasticon, vol. VI. p. 1449, an account is given of a college supposed to have been here; but, excepting that the church was given by King Henry the First to the Bishop and Church of Exeter, who still enjoy the great tithes and the advowson of the vicarage, it clearly refers to the college dedicated to St. Perran in the parish of Keverne. The shrine of St. Perran, however, containing his head and other relics, was at this place; Lysons quotes a deed in the registry of Exeter, showing the great resort of pilgrims hither in 1485; and in the will of Sir John Arundell 1433, occurs this bequest: “Item lego ad usum parochie S’c’i Pyerani in Zabulo ad claudendum capud S. Pierani honorificè et meliori modo quo sciunt xls.[12]”

The great tithes of this parish have long been held on lease for lives under the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, by the family of Enys of Enys. The present incumbent is

the Rev. John Buller, instituted in 1818, who is also vicar of St. Just in Penwith, son of Mr. Edward Buller of Portlooe, and brother of the judge.

Chiverton, having belonged to the Arundells, was sold in 1703 to John Rosogan, esq. In 1724 it was again sold to Mr. John Andrew of Trevellance, maternal great-grandfather to the late John Thomas, esq. an eminent attorney, and afterwards Vice Warden of the Stannaries, where Mr. Thomas built an excellent house with extensive gardens and plantations; this place has descended to his only daughter, who married William Peter, esq. of Haslyn, member for Bodmin in the Parliament of 1832. They have still further improved the place, and made it their chief residence.

Perran Zabuloe measures 9499 statute acres.

£.s.d.
Annual value of the Real Property, as returned to Parliament in 18153,38500
Poor Rate in 1831851140