God's Acre VIII Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Deceangi: Rather than keep this cache temporarily disabled (which should only be used for shortish periods) I'm archiving it. If/when the cache is ever replaced I'll gladly unarchive it assuming it still meets the guidelines.

Please Note! Six months from the date of the Listing being Archived, is the maximum period, in which this Listing will be eligible to be considered for Unarchiving

Please avoid geolitter by removing any remaining traces of your cache or contact a local cacher to do so for you. If you are having difficulty doing so then please contact me via my profile and I will try to get someone to assist. This is particularly important if your cache appears to contain Travelbugs or Geocoins.

Deceangi Volunteer UK Reviewer Geocaching.com

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Hidden : 7/12/2008
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Those familiar with the other God's Acre caches should have no problem locating this cache. Please take a pen or pencil to log your visit as the cache does not contain one. Please show respect when searching for the cache; there should be no need to climb or walk over graves.

God's Acre VIII

The Churchyard is God's acre - a sanctuary for wildlife, a haven for many plants and cared for accordingly. Even as this is sanctuary in which to remember the departed it is also a sanctuary to the living. It is an opportunity to rejoice in the abundance of God's creation over which we have been given responsibility.



Kirk Santan is a vicarage in the patronage of the Crown; formerly of Rushen Abbey. Dedicated to a Celtic saint, Sanctain, the church is one of the ancient parish churches of the Island. The parochial system in Man is supposed to have been established in the 12th Century, when the native Norse King, Olaf 1, ruled the Island. He gave considerable grants of land to the church. Christianity in the Isle of Man traditionally dates from 447 A.D. and it is commonly thought that it arrived here from Ireland. Perhaps it is more probable that it was introduced somewhat later, by monks of some other Celtic Church, perhaps that of St. Columba of Iona, or that of Wales. Wherever these missionaries came from, each seems to have picked some suitable spot, uusually near a well or spring of water. There he built a small "keeill" or chapel, about 20 feet long and 12 feet wide. Close beside it he built the small cell in which he lived. In the keeill he said mass and the daily offices; and he spent his days preaching to the families living around him. This present parish church has been built on the site of such an early keeill; there was another in the parish of Sulbrick, and others elsewhere.

The church was rebuilt on the old plan in 1720, and again in 1774. The interior was restored in 1932, and there have been more recent alterations. The position of St. Sanctain's, standing with the parsonage house in the midst of fields, is typical of the old parish churches in the Island. There was no early tradition of village settlement here; the normal rural pattern (derived from both the Celtic and Norse practice) being that of isolated, scattered farmsteads. The early parish churches - such as this - seem to have been erected on a praticular keeill site towards the coastal end of their respective parishes. Thus those who live in Santan Parish and worship here perpetuate a tradition of sixteen centuries, in its Celtic form dating back to the fifth or sixth century A.D.

Please join that "great cloud of witnesess" in prayer, before you leave this sacred place.

 

1971 D.L.



Once the cache has been located, please take time to have a look around and enter the church which is always open for visitors, it is a lovely little spot, maybe sign the visitors book that is located just inside the door.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)

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