Many stone crosses will be noticed on the road sides. St Buryan is said to possess more wayside crosses than any other parish in Cornwall, but many are out of place and several stand in the fields. In all parts of the parish many fields still retain the names of Cross Field or Park an Grouse.
St Buryan not only had sanctuary rights, as did most churches, but it also had the privilege and ordinance of Chartered or extended sanctuary. In AD 930 King Athelstan provided that any thief or robber who had fled to any church sanctuary could obtain his freedom by paying a fine or returning the stolen goods. If he had committed a capital crime he could remain in the chartered sanctuary provided he behaved himself and obeyed the church's officers. This chartered sanctuary possibly extended about one to one and a half miles around the church and could account for the unusual number of crosses.
Careful study reveals both an inner and an outer ring. The outer ring would have marked the extent of the Chartered Sanctuary and the inner ring the approach to the precincts itself.
Reports on Management / Restoration work on crosses in St Buryan and area
(list supplied by Ann Preston-Jones of Historic England, with thanks)
Pendrea, St Buryan http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2004/2004R004.pdf
Boskenna Cross, St Buryan http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2002/2002R080.pdf
Paul Church http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2010/2010R137.pdf
Kerris Cross, Paul http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2012/2012R046.pdf
Sancreed Church http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2005/2005R060.pdf
Tremethick Cross, Sancreed http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2008/2008R131.pdf
St Erth Church http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/1998/1998R061.pdf
St Michael’s Mount http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2003/2003R044.pdf
and http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2004/2004R003.pdf