St Gorran Churchtown, Cornwall

Entering the churchyard I'm excited to immediately see the raised 'lan' or circular churchyard indicative of an early Celtic Christian enclosure. This is a very early Christian site! Gorran Churchtown was originally called Langoran (monastery of Goran).

The church is very large, immaculate and has clearly had a lot of investment. It is beautifully cared for, with modern improvements and facilities. There is obviously an active community here. Yet I feel uncomfortable initially. Something is unsettling my spirit and I don't really want to stay. However, I determine to settle and wait for Jesus. It is quiet and peaceful in the natural. But no worship is rising in my spirit yet. It actually feels quite hostile in the spirit realm.  

I see a vision of three pharisaical demons surrounding me, taunting, yelling in my face, ‘What are you doing here?' I can't help wondering if this is an empty sepulchre?

I dig deeper in prayer, seeking the deeper foundations laid by Goron. The excitement I had on seeing the 'lan' leads me to know there was a prayer hermitage here in ancient times. I go into another vision. 

I see a solitary monk slashing his way through dense undergrowth. He is determined, strong, focussed. He comes to a small clearing with a spring and sits resting. Birds land in front of him and I can tell he is content and peaceful. The Celtic Christians had an affinity with wildlife.  I sense it is Goron. 

He kneels blessing the spring and lifting his hands to heaven asks for God’s blessing on his endeavours. Then he sets about clearing the land and establishing a hermitage. Whether I am watching the establishment of his first hermitage at nearby Polgoron (pool of Goron) or the current church 'lan' is not revealed. At Polgoron, which is now private land, there was also a holy well. 

He sows a grain for wheat flour and is singing as he works. Another joins him. I can hear him saying ‘This is the land of my heart’, meaning he feels called to this place and the people. He sings a lot in joy and worship to Jesus. I am so aware of this man's deep joy and wholeness.  He is completely secure in himself.

I ask the Lord about now and the initial disquiet I felt. I see layers upon layers of dry dust forming sheets over this original foundation. I sense to pray for the outpouring of God’s water, the freshness and renewing of the Holy Spirit to bring life and the simplicity of joyful devotion, which was the original foundation. Trappings of religion and tradition are choking people with dust so they can’t breathe in the freshness of God’s Spirit.

Yet despite this, I hear the Lord saying ‘My heart is still turned towards this place. Pray for the breath, the wind of My Spirit to blow strongly, to blow away the dust and release my fresh life of renewal.' So I pray. However, whilst still in prayer with my eyes closed, I hear someone else enter the church and my spirit goes into high alert. I don't think I've ever before heard this but God's warning was loud and clear, 'Do not engage with this man. He is a threat'. I alerted my husband and we just kept praying. I kept my eyes closed but could feel the darkness surrounding this person.  Eventually after lingering by us for quite a while they did leave. But that evening I was agitated and couldn't find peace until we had prayed that anything released against us was broken off. Only then did my peace return. Strange things happen in these places and the enemy hates us praying there. But God still loves and all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.