History of St. Ives

St. Ia or Hya, the Irish Princess who introduced Christianity to the area in the 5th Century

The legend tells how St. Ia, a Virgin Saint of noble birth, went to the seashore to depart for Cornwall from her native Ireland, she was due to travel the hazardous journey together with other Saints. However, upon reaching the seashore she found that they had all departed without her, frightened that she was too young to make  such a perilous journey alone, she began to pray.

As she prayed she noticed a small leaf floating on the water, she touched it with a rod to see if it would sink.  As she looked it grew bigger and bigger. Seeing that God had sent her the leaf and trusting in him,  she embarked upon the leaf and was carried across the Channel, reaching her destination before the others. 

The legend goes on to say that she founded an oratory in a clearing of a wood on the site of the existing Parish Church that is dedicated to her. This 15th Century church has the rare distinction of having three church wardens, said to have originated as: one for the vicar, one for the seafarers and one for the miners and land workers.

The town of St Ives was granted its charter by King Edward I in 1295 and has gone from strength to strength ever since.