Morwenstowe : St. Moorin's Well

'THE following curious tradition has been preserved among some valuable MSS. belonging to the Coffins, of Porteldge. They were collected by an antiquary of that family above 250 years since. " Moorwinstow, its name, is from St. Moorin. The tradition is, that when the parishioners were about to build their church this saint went down under the cliff and chose a stone for the font, which she brought up upon her head. In her way, being weary, she lay down the stone and rested herself, out of which place sprang a well, from thence called St. Moorin's Well. Then she took up the stone and carried it to the place where now the church standeth. The parishioners had begun their church in another place, and there did convey this stone, but what was built by day was pulled down by night, and the materials carried to this place; whereupon they forbare, and built it in the place they were directed to by a wonder."'

Hope 1893