SOUTH PETHERWIN or PEDERWIN.
HALS.
The manuscript relative to this parish is lost.
TONKIN AND WHITAKER.
South Pederwin is in the hundred of East, and is bounded to the west by Trewenn, Altarnun, and Lewanick, to the north by St. Stephen, to the east by St. Thomas, Lanceston, and Lawhitton, to the south by Lezant.
This parish takes its name [from], and is dedicated to, St. Paternus, who was descended from an ancient family in Armorica, from whence he sailed into Ireland, and living there some time incognito, went from thence into Wales; here his piety and conduct raised him such an interest that the princes of that country, then at variance, laid down their arms at his application. Camden in Cardiganshire tells us, that St. Patern resided there, and had a church there dedicated to his memory, called Llan Badern Vaur, the church of St. Patern the Great.
St. Patern hath likewise two churches here and in Devon dedicated to him, this and North Pederwyn; and having done great service to religion in Wales, he returned into his native country of Armorica, at the instance of his countrymen, where he was received with great respect by Sampson the younger, Archbishop of Dole. The French Bretons keep three holidays in honour of his memory, one upon the day he procured peace among the Welsh princes, the second upon his going into orders, and the third upon the anniversary of his death, which happened about the year 540, and is, I suppose, the day on which the church celebrates his memory, viz. Nov. the 12th.
In anno 1291, 20th Edward I. (Tax. Benef.) the rectory of this church was valued at £6, and was then appropriated to the priory of St. German’s, as it is now to the University of Oxford; and the vicarage at £40. The prior of St. German’s did also receive out of the said vicarage a pension of 13s. 4d.
THE EDITOR.
There is but little to add respecting this parish, which is one of the very few livings held by the University of Oxford, only five in all, with one lectureship.