TRURO DIOCESE
'Cornubia'-Land of the Saints
This painting by John Miller, specially commissioned for Truro Cathedral, was unveiled by H.R.H. Charles, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, on the 20th May 1980, the centenary of the laying of the Foundation Stones of the Cathedral by his great, great grandfather, H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, on the 20th May 1880.
Given in loving memory of Iris Harrison by her devoted friends in Cornwall, it is on continual display in the cathedral, an inspirational reminder of the uniqueness of the Diocese of Truro.
The above reproduction
of the painting cannot do the original justice.
Do visit Truro Cathedral to see it in all its glory.
ABOUT THE PAINTING
Cornwall is a land of contrasts, a Celtic land, at times mysterious, dark and brooding, at times dancing with light.
The early inhabitants, seeking to explain the forces which governed their lives, built stone circles to study the sun and moon. They worshipped gods whom they named after these forces, and they offered up sacrifices to the suit its the visible source of light and nourishment. This form of worship continued through the Stone, Iron and Bronze Ages, and the Roman occupation.
Then came the Christian missionaries from Ireland, Wales and Brittany, bringing with them a different kind of light - the Christian faith.
Jesus said "I am the light of the world".
Our ancestors were faced with an awesome choice - as is every Christian, every day. They could either continue to pay homage to the visible elemental forces, thereby risking the flames of hell, or they could become consumed in a different kind of flame, that of the love of God.
The painting "Land of Saints" shows an aerial view of the county with the sun setting in the West. But as the natural sunlight recedes, and darkness steals over the land, the Celtic Saints arrive with a new, spiritual light; the enlightenment of the Christian Gospel.
They carry staffs in the shape of a T, symbolising the sacrifice of the Cross.
The Dove above the leading Cross symbolises the Holy Spirit.
Cornish churches are marked by a Celtic Cross in the painting. Each is illuminated by the light of Christian faith. Many churches stand on the same spot where early missionaries first established Celtic communities. Many still have their original wells, some the remnants of the Saints' hermitage.
To visit one of these ancient sites is to tread upon the very "Land of the Saints" where the first seeds of Cornish Christianity took root, living and growing until the present day in the heart of every Christian.