Gorseth Kernow

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Lady of Cornwall and flower girls at the 2007 Gorseth. (Penzance)
Lady of Cornwall and flower girls at the 2007 Gorseth. (Penzance)

Gorseth Kernow is a Cornish organization, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of the county of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.

The Gorseth Kernow (Gorsedd of Cornwall) was set up by Henry Jenner in 1928 at Boscawen-un, one of the early proponents of Cornish language revival, who took the name "Gwas Myghal", meaning "servant of Michael". He and twelve others were initiated by the Archdruid of Wales. It has been held every year since, excepting during WWII. A thousand people have been Cornish bards, including Ken George, R. Morton Nance ("Mordon") and Peter Berresford Ellis.[1]

The Gorseth Kernow has now been opened up to all forms of revived Cornish and states its aim as "to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall." As such it supports the revival of the Cornish language. The Gorseth also encourages the study of the arts and history. The Gorseth is a non-political organisation. It has been held annually since and has become an important institution in Cornwall's cultural and civic life. Its competitions attract many applicants and the "open Gorseth" is attended by many Cornish people. There is also extensive coverage on local media.

An important part of the open Gorseth is the awarding of bardships to individuals for meritorious work for Cornish culture. Thus the Gorseth acts in many ways as a form of "honours system". Bardships are awarded for study in the language, services to Cornish music, encouraging the arts (especially amongst children) amongst other things. Initiate Bards are given Bardic names by the Grand Bard who welcomes them into the College of Bards. These names are in Cornish and will often refer somehow to the reason for their bardship. Other Bardic names refer to the Bard's personal of family name, or describe the Bard themselves,

The three major Gorseths in Britain are recorded in an ancient Welsh triad as being held at Moel Merw and Bryn Gwyddon in Wales and Boscawen-Un in Cornwall (ref: Craig Weatherhill). After domination of the Brythonic Celts by the Saxons the Bardic tradition fell into disuse and despite attempts at revival over the centuries lost all its prestige.

The next open Gorseth will be held in September 2008 in Looe.

Contents

[edit] History

The first ceremony took place at Boscawen-Un (stone circle) in 1928. It was inaugurated in 1928 by Arch Druid Pedrog of Wales at the request of a small group of Cornish scholars including Henry Jenner and Robert Morton Nance on the pattern of the Welsh Gorsedd. Henry Jenner was the first Grand Bard.

[edit] The following people were the first bards of Gorseth Kernow at Boscawen-Un

Morton Nance was to become the second Grand Bard in 1934. He said, "One generation has set Cornish on its feet. It is now for another to make it walk." Although the early Gorseth used the Unified form, the Gorseth is now open to all forms of the revived Cornish tongue.

[edit] List of Cornish bards and venues since 1899

[edit] 1899 Wales

  • John Hobson Matthews (Mab Cernyw)
  • Reginald Reynolds (Gwas Piran)
  • Hettie Tangye Reynolds (Merch Eia)

[edit] 1903 Brittany

[edit] 1904 Wales

  • Katherine Lee Jenner (Morvoren)
  • L C Duncombe Jewell (Bardd Glas)

[edit] 1928 Wales

  • Albert Marwood Bluett (Gwryghonen Vew)
  • Revd James Sims Carah (Gwas Crowan)
  • Revd Canon Gilbert Hunter Doble (Gwas Gwendron)
  • Robert Morton Nance (Mordon)
  • Annie Pool (Myrgh Piala)
  • Trelawney Roberts (Gonader A Bell)
  • Joseph Hambley Rowe (Tolzethan)
  • William Charles David Watson (Tirvab)

[edit] Venues in Cornwall since 1928

[edit] List of Grand Bards of the Gorseth Kernow since 1928

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ List of new Cornish bards / bardic names
  • Weatherhill, Craig (1995). Cornish Place Names & Language. Sigma Leisure. ISBN 1-85058-462-1. 
  • Jenkin, John Chirgwin (2007). BYRTH GORSETH KERNOW 1928-2007: Bards of the Gorseth of Cornwall. Gorseth Kernow. ISBN 1-903668-01-6. 


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