St Germanus Church and St Michael's Chapel Rame Head, Cornwall

St Germanus church, Rame near Saltash, Cornwall

We stumbled across  St Germanus Church, Rame as we were heading to the more famous St Michael's Chapel on Rame Head and decided to pull over and explore. I'm so glad we did! 

On entering the church I am enveloped by a beautiful peace and presence of God. It is so easy to worship in song. I linger, resting in His peace, finding strength in being with Him.  This too is a very ancient Christian site, most probably Celtic and was linked by an ancient pilgrim track with the chapel on Rame Head.  It is dedicated to St Germanus of Auxerre, France who landed here around 400AD to counteract the Pelagian heresy (that we are not born with original sin but innocent). St Germanus is also associated with the Priory Church of St Germanus, St Germans, which is nearby on the River Tiddy. (See separate entries about St German's priory church)

St Michael's Chapel: Rame head

The chapel stands out for miles, perched on a raised promontory surrounded on three sides by sea. It is an 'edge of the world' location favoured by early Celtic Christians, who believed heaven and earth touched in such 'thin places'.  The climb up to the chapel is short but steep and the walker is immersed in nature, aware of the vast expanse of sea fading to the horizon and the canopy of wide open sky. The chapel is ruined and a bit dismal inside but still with stunning views. The day we visited was glorious sunshine turning the sea to turquoise and bringing out the butterflies. My heart is reminded that all of creation points to revealing God's glory.

Sitting here listening to grasshoppers and singing birds, all seems well with the world and is a tiny foretaste of heaven

I understand completely why a Christian would live and pray here. The view is 360 degrees right out to the furthest horizon and back inland for miles along the coast. It is stunningly beautiful, yet in winter would be brutally exposed to the gales.  It is easy to raise your heart in praise when all around is beauty. Powder-blue butterflies, metallic emerald beetles, grasshoppers chirruping , kittiwakes soaring and the gentle roll of the surf against the rocks far below. 

Even on a sunny day the senses are heightened and the soul awakens to praise spontaneously, the God who is Creator of such majesty.

Looking around where all is ‘good’ there remains the vestiges of Eden  in the colours, the shapes, the fragrant sweet air, the harmony of creatures with sea and land.

And I wait, my spirit alert yet at rest. I wait for your whisper that all is well all manner of things shall be well.

Step off the world for a while

Can you?

Leave behind the noise, the rush, the clamour

Put the phone to one side

Mute the sound

Lean into my hush and hum

For it isn’t silent

The sea is constantly moving and breaking on rocks

Wind whips against my face as a gentle warm kiss

The grasshoppers chirrup and grass rustles

Yet there is a stillness in the harmony of nature

I close my eyes to dream

Of You and who You are

My Creator

My Friend

My heart’s desire

My everything

In the cool shade of the chapel I lift my eyes to follow the tracery of the clouds feathering the sky

It pulls my heart heavenward, my mind towards things eternal

The vast expanse of both sea and sky brings perspective

It puts things in their rightful place 

So much smaller than their loud voices shout

You are miniscule

Worries, anxieties, problems

Compared to the vastness of Creation which tells of the eternal vastness of my Creator

I remind myself that nothing is beyond Him or too difficult for Him

That he should know the number of hairs on my head, 

Should care for the sparrow and clothe the lily

I can be assured that my needs are known before I express them

Trust becomes easier

Then hope and faith

Eventually I pull myself away from my contemplations and ask God if there is anything He wants to share from the past.

I see a man kneeling in adoring prayer, hands lifted in devotion. He is young, earnest, focussed.

I hear him saying ‘This land is good, this land is blessed’

He stands and turns to face inland hands, outstretched he prays all over the coast, as far as the eye can see. Prayers of blessing, prayers for salvations, prayers for the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I hear ‘This is a place of visitation, heaven breaking in to earth’.  I can now 'see' there is a ladder into heaven, a portal.

I see a banner with the words: My Kingdom Shall be established and the gates of hell will not prevail!

This place is certainly a foretaste of Heaven.