A Community’s Celtic Quiet Place

Barbara Brittain
6 days ago
4 min read

Within its walled garden, in the peaceful and beautiful village of Nanstallon, stands St. Stephen’s Church, officially one of Cornwall’s Celtic Quiet Places.

These tranquil spaces are a network of 78 ancient Cornish churches, inspired by Celtic saints who sought out secluded spots for prayer. Many are in isolated or rural locations and offer sanctuary and a place for quiet reflection.

In 2022 Judy Squibbs, Focal Minister at St. Stephen’s, along with Marion Lowe, who has connected with the church for many years, wanted to do something special with the church’s outside space. Their vision was to create a welcoming garden. After hearing about the Celtic Quiet Places initiative, forms were filled in, organisers were given a tour, and the application resulted in St. Stephen’s joining the network.

Although Saint Stephen is not a Celtic saint, the setting is a perfect place for peaceful prayer and contemplation. Judy said: “The hope is for many to visit from far and wide and for villagers to see the garden as a unique place in which to spend time, taking with them a mug of tea and a book or simply arriving empty handed to a place of rest and restoration, receiving their fix of peace in a busy world.”

One interesting tree in the garden, close to the path, is actually three tree types growing from one stump. The original tree was cut down and out of it an oak and two other species are growing in unity. Judy refers to it as the church’s ‘Trinity Tree’!

The church garden has been maintained by volunteers including former churchwarden and a local farmer who has kept bordering bushes under control for years. Parts of the garden however had become unwieldy.

Judy recently received a comment about the church garden: “It’s looking unloved and overgrown.” This galvanised Judy into action, and the outcome is nothing short of remarkable. Its re-creation has mainly been through the work of volunteers and donations from villagers. The garden has grown in size due to the cutting back of lawns and hedges! Local men Simon Smith and Enyon Cowling tackled fern banks, removed sprawling ivy from church and garden walls and chopped back overhanging trees. A walkway around a large bush has been restored. One villager told Judy that it has been 25 years since the bush and its adjacent hedge have been cut!

A clear pathway around the garden

Enyon explains why he worked to make the garden look so special: “I’ve grown up here and my house roof top is visible from the church garden. When Judy put out a call for volunteers, I got involved because I wanted to help. I’m proud of the church and like the idea of it being a Celtic Quiet Place. I’m up for continuing to help maintain the church garden whenever it’s needed.”

Generous villagers donated tubs and plants, and pre-school children populated planters with flowers and presented them to Judy. Pupils at Nanstallon School are invited to explore the garden and enjoy a picnic on its lawn.

Long term residents cleaned church windows inside and out and the light flooding through as a result is spectacular.

It all looks amazing! Without a shadow of a doubt, it can now only be said that church and garden are loved and cared for.

Soon visitors will have benches to sit on while they spend time in the garden. Well-loved priest in charge at St. Stephen’s until a few years ago, Revd Fran Clemow, kindly left the church a small legacy, and with it, two benches are on order.

About St. Stephen’s as a Celtic Quiet Place, Marion said: “The prayer garden is in its early stages, and we look forward to it developing and maturing in coming months and years." Judy added: “Hopefully our Celtic Quiet Place will be recognised as a garden of peace and prayer, encouraging visitors to sit, reflect and enjoy.”

St Stephen’s is one of five churches making up the Bodmin Team Ministry and The Bodmin Way walking route created around it. One of the churches, St. Meubred’s, Cardinham, is also designated as a Celtic Quiet Place, joining shortly after St. Stephen's. Meubred is thought to be the son of an Irish prince who travelled to Cornwall during the 6th century. He settled as a hermit in Cardinham. The present 15th century church probably stands on the site of Meubred's abode.

Ann Kerridge, churchwarden, explains why St. Meubred’s applied to be a Celtic Quiet Place: “We know how much it means to visitors to find a quiet, holy place in the country, just to have peace or to pray. We want people to know where they can do this so being part of the network is ideal. There’s something special about a place which has been holy to people for well over a thousand years and where generation after generation have brought their joys and sorrows. It grounds you.”

Why not visit all five churches? The two officially recognised as Celtic Quiet Places, the historic church in Lanivet (a historically significant site with strong Celtic roots), St Hydroc’s within the National Trust Estate at Lanhydrock (with its strong connection to Celtic heritage), and St. Petroc’s Church in Bodmin (considered a place of Celtic Christian heritage) are open daily.