BODRIGAN'S LEAP— BOSCASTLE almost equally fine. On this headland stands the parish church of Forrabury, in an almost unrivalled situation ; it is dedicated to St. Symphorian. An interesting granite cross stands in the churchyard, and within the church are some of Cornwall's fine carved bench-ends. The chancel-screen is late Perp., but portions of the church are earlier. The absence of bells is accounted for by a tradition which inspired one of R. S. Hawker's most popular ballads. A fine peal of bells had been procured, and they were being brought to Boscastle by sea. Land was almost reached, and the pilot, who knew the perils of the coast, exclaimed, " God be thanked for a safe voyage ". The captain swore roundly: "Thank God on land — at sea thank the skipper and his good ship ". Suddenly a tempest arose ; the ship and all that it contained were lost, the pilot alone reaching land. The church- tower is therefore silent, but it is said that in times of storm the buried bells can be heard pealing. " Still when the storm of Bottreau's waves Is waking in his weedy caves, Those bells, that sullen surges hide, Peal their deep tones beneath the tide. ' Come to thy God in time,' Thus saith the ocean chime ; 'Storm, whirlwind, billow past. Come to thy God at last '." About a mile E. of Boscastle, in a secluded and most picturesque vale, stands Minster, so named from a monastic building that once 67
