Our Cultural and Christian Heritage

In the days of the early Celtic church over a thousand years ago, granite stone crosses were sited throughout cornwall at route junctions or vantage points to guide and protect the traveller.  Andrew Langdon, in his study of 'Stone Crosses in East Cornwall' identified these as 'Wayside Crosses' whose main function was to mark the route to the parish church.

Most people in mediaeval Cornwall had to walk to church unless they owned a horse.  Many farms and hamlets had their 'shortcut' to the churchtown and these later became public rights-of-way.  The wayside cross was also used to make the tracks to sites of pilgrimage, monastic buildings, ancient chapels and holy wells.

The Celtic crosses are part of our heritage and remind us of the Christian tradition and culture of Cornwall.

Six New Celtic Crosses

Establishing or replacing crosses at points around the town of Liskeard to mark the end of the second millennium and the beginning of the third was an idea first mooted by Mr. Tony Wood.  The Millennium Management Committee of the Town Council considered the idea as something they would like to support because of its historical as well as Christian significance.

Five crosses next to the five main routes leading into and out of Liskeard were dedicated on 11th June 2000 by individual denominations within the town, who have each selected a design.  The sixth cross, the Town Council's community Cross sited on the Parade, was dedicated on New Year's Eve.

All Together in One Place

A united service to celebrate the dedication of the crosses took place at 7:00 p.m. on 11th June 2000.  During the service, deeds confirming the dedication of each cross were formally handed over by each church to be lodged with the Liskeard Museum; citatons for the work in preparing the local granite and erecting the crosses were presented to the two stonemasons commissioned.

The town is indebted to Ian Piper and Paul Stacey, not only for their skill and craftsmanship, but also for the spirit in which they undertook the work.

It is firmly hoped that these six crosses of traditional Celtic design will be a lasting memorial to the Christian heritage we share, our historic links with the past and a visible reminder of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

The sites of all six crosses are as follows:

Callington Road/Charter Way Roundabout - (Sancreed design)
 - dedicated by Liskeard Methodist Church

Maudlin (Morrisons Bridge Roundabout) - (St. Piran Design)
 - dedicated by St. Martin's Parish Church

New Road Central Reservation - (Sancreed design)
 - dediated by Our Lady & St. Neot Catholic Church

The Parade - (Cardynham design)
 - dedicated by Liskeard Town Council

Trevecca/Culverland Roadside - (Lanherne design)
 - dedicated by the Salvation Army

Trevillis Park Entrance - (Scorier design)
 - dedicated by Greenbank Christian Centre

Liskeard Churches Together