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Saint Ia or Ives Martyr

Reposed 5/6 century Remembered February 3

The impetus to bring the Gospel to Cornwall came, as far as we know with the little evidence we have, from Ireland and Wales. But the north Cornwall coast was not an easy place to land. Two estuaries provided entry points – those of the Hayle and the Camel.

St Ia is said to have come from Ireland in the 5 or 6C on a coracle (later thought to be a leaf!) and to have been martyred on the River Hayle and buried at St Ives. There is a holy well ‘Venton Ia’, which was the mains supply of water for this part of the town til 1843 in the town.

["Saint", "West", "We0010", "Cent05", "Martyr", "Well"]