St Just in Roseland
St Just in Roseland Holy Well
We were on the Roseland in Cornwall by chance and as it was such a beautiful May day, we decided on the spur of the moment, to swing by St Just in Roseland church and holy well. We’d unexpectedly just found the holy well in nearby St Mawes and this spurred us on.
It is such a special place, unique in its subtropical garden churchyard and creek-side location; always beautiful, with scripture embossed on stones lining the path down to the church. Jesus is very much honoured.
We paused by the lychgate to the creek, to read some of the prayers hanging on a prayer tree, before heading to the holy well. It is a few steps down the creek-side path and set back in a hidden enclave. I’ve visited several times before and in truth wasn’t really expecting what happened.
It’s late spring and the path was lined with bluebells and three cornered garlic, the white and blue picturesque against the verdant fresh green spring foliage. The sound of the bubbling spring was immediately soothing and the sense of quiet peace from the natural surroundings caused us to quieten and pause, yet strangely I couldn’t engage with God. I didn’t understand initially but had spotted a quartz crystal strategically placed on top of the well probably by someone doing a ritual. On removing it my prophetic eyes were open to see a demon sitting cross legged on the well leering at us. It had obviously been invited there through the ungodly practises, so I repented that in this holy site God has been dishonoured, and rebuked it. After it left everything changed!
A deep peace settled over us, enhancing the natural peace. It was the weighty peace of being in God’s presence. My husband was drawn to the old song, ‘As the deer for pants for the water so my soul longs after You, You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you’.
Before long I was aware of an angel of fire like a pillar positioned on top of the well where the demon had sat. With this awareness came an overwhelming grief for Cornwall as I touched God’s pain-filled heart. The need to pray and cry out for God to visit once consumed me.
I then sensed and heard a command from heaven to the fire angel to release fresh fire over us. I instantly received and my body responded, bowing and shaking. I was moved to tears of intercession by my own need for fresh fire and the need for it in Cornwall. This lasted many minutes.
Then I encouraged my husband to stand where I’d been receiving the fire, right in front of the well. He too was instantly impacted feeling the fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit’s grace.
As we came to after this sacred encounter, I was very aware of multitude birds calling; robins flitting around and a wren singing loudly. We’ve experienced this so many times now at these ancient holy sites when God’s presence is alive. And the converse of an absence of bird song in places which are contaminated by evil.
Following this time at the well we moved into the church to pray. There was helpful information about St Just and the Celtic Christian history. Every time there’s an additional piece of the jigsaw I learn about. Even here in St Just there is another legend of Joseph of Arimathea coming to trade for tin and bringing Jesus. Can it really be coincidence that these hagiographical legends exist right across the West Country? St Just in Roseland, Jesus Well, Looe Island, Sisters Well, Glastonbury, to name a few off the top of my head.
In the information centre at St Just, they mentioned Cornish tin ingots from the Phoenician traders have been found in
Israel!
There’s more information in some of the photos and the history section for those interested.
So, God met us again in St Just in Roseland I encourage anyone to visit and linger in this special, beautiful and holy place, set aside for the glory of God.
