Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/254

228 are continually moving, hills become valleys, and valleys rise and swell into lofty hills. The hill of sand which covered the lost church, and wherein the bodies of so many were buried at various times, began to shift in the last century, and after a few years the oratory which it had so long concealed became disclosed to view.

In the year 1835 the sand was removed from the ancient edifice, and once more the oratory of St. Piran stood forth in its original condition, after a lapse of many centuries. It was then in as perfect a state as when it was forsaken and left to be overwhelmed. The doorways, and the apertures in the walls, had been closed up with stone, and the roof removed, but in other respects the building appeared to have been left in its original condition. To those who had the privilege of beholding this ancient sanctuary when first rescued from the sand, it must have been striking in its general character and appearance, although differing so materially from Saxon and Norman remains in construction and proportions. Its diminutive dimensions, its rude masonry and simple ornaments, should have excited an interest which nobler specimens of art could scarcely inspire. But it has nevertheless been wantonly injured; even within three days after the discovery was announced the doorway was destroyed, and the only cut stones of the building were carried away, excepting one broken stone of the ornamental moulding of the doorway, which I found in 1840 in clearing away the sand for the purpose of re- building the tomb of St. Piran, and measuring and examining the remains of the structure. Its present state is ruinous, the wall on each side of the doorway with a great portion of the eastern wall have fallen down, and the sand seems again to be gathering around the despoiled relic which it had so long preserved from desecration and ruin.

Its dimensions are 29ft. in length externally, and 16ft. in breadth; and the western gable, which is still standing, measures in height 19ft.; the side walls were about 14ft. in height. The ground-plan will shew the proportions and simple internal arrangements