St Pancras Church, Alton Pancras

Image: © Maigheach-gheal Taken: 28 Jul 2010

There has been a church of the site since Norman times though little is known of its early days beyond the fact that it was attached to the Abbey across the hill at Cerne Abbas. The only remaining part of the early church is the 15th century tower and the later Victorian church follows the same plan as its predecessor. St Pancras is at once one of the most famous (by virtue of the railway station) and least known saints in the calendar. In fact, there are two saints of that name: one a first century bishop ordained by St Peter himself, the other a young fourth century Roman. Local tradition favours the Roman youth. His story is told in the words of the Rev R A Eden, a 19th century vicar of Old St. Pancras Church, London. "It is recorded that St Pancras was a young Roman noble, born in Phrygia, who lost both father and mother when he was only ten years old. His uncle Dionysius, to whose care his father had entrusted him on his deathbed, took him to Rome to be educated. Here both uncle and nephew were converted to the Christian faith by Marcellinus, the Bishop of that city. In AD304 when St Pancras was only fourteen his uncle died; and before he was buried the boy, whose conversion to Christianity had become known to the Emperor Diocletian, was summoned to the palace and charged to abjure his faith, the alternative being that he would be thrown to the wild beasts. "That my be," was the young martyr's reply to the threat, "but I dare not deny my Saviour and I dare not worship idols. God will give me strength to die for Him, as others have done." Upon this the enraged Emperor commanded the soldiers to take him forth at once to the Aurelain Way and to dispatch him with their swords. The command they obeyed, and the brave and faithful boy won his imperishable crown". Because of his youth, he became patron saint of children and for centuries was very popular. In time his fame declined and St Nicholas superseded him as patron saint of children. His emblem is an armed youth and his festival is on 12th May.

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