Situated among the sand hills on the North Coast of Cornwall, separated by the tidal estuary called the Gannel from the seaside resort of Newquay, lies the little village of Crantock, with its venerable old Church, most carefully restored by the Rev. G M Parsons and is now considered the most beautifully adorned Church in Cornwall. The name of the Parish is the name of a Celtic Saint, Carantoc, who lived there about 1400 years ago, and the story of whose life is told in the (modern) stained-glass windows of the Church.       Click to see Full-size.                                                   The photographs above were taken by Ann Dumas from Carantec in Brittany

The Celtic Saint Caranog, is also known as Carantus, Cerentius, Cranog, Carantacus and  Carantoc. In Ireland he was known as Ceirnach.

The text below is taken from the Church Pamphlet, published by St Carantoc Church.

In Crantock, he is known as "Saint Carantoc and legend has it that his floating altar arrived on the bank of the River Gannel. Coming ashore, he intended settling at the water's edge, but the shavings he produced for lighting a fire were carried away as soon as they were made to the site of the present church, by the dove. Carantoc saw this as the guiding of the Holy Spirit and consequently settled there with his company of Priests for the  conversion of the people to The Holy Catholic Faith."

Reference material to St Carantoc, can be found in "The Saints of Cornwall", Part 4, by Gilbert H Noble, published by The Holywell Press in 1965, or "Saints, Seaways and Settlements in The Celtic Lands", by E G Bowen, published by Cardiff University of Wales Press in 1969

St Carantoc Church Photograph taken from the Entrance Full View of St Carantoc Church St Carantoc shown as a Mitred Abbot View towards the Altar Stained Glass window depicting the life of St Carantoc. Stained Glass window depicting the life of St Carantoc. Stained Glass window depicting the life of St Carantoc. Stained Glass window depicting the life of St Carantoc. Stained Glass window depicting the life of St Carantoc. View of the Altar and Stained-Glass window above. Close-up of View of the Altar and Stained-Glass window above. Rear of the Church, showing the Font and the base of the Bell Tower. Crantock Village. Crantock Beach Looking up the Gannel Estuary. Newquay is on the left of the Photograph. Very large sandy Beach, however 95% is coverd with water at High Tide. Looking down onto the Beach, with the Tide out. Another view of the Estuary, with Newquay on the left. As the Beach is very flat, the tide comes in very quickly. This site was last updated Tuesday January 29, 2019