Copy of an article by Eric Mildren, Churchwarden of St. Sithney, in the November 2004 edition of “St. Elvan’s Round”, the parish magazine for Sithney and Porthleven.During a visit on St. Sithney’s Day, 19th September 1993, by the parish priest and congregation of the Church dedicated to St. Sezni, in Guisseny, Brittany, they sang a ‘Hymn to St. Sezni’ in Breton. After the service the hymn sheets were filed away in our priest’s vestry.
When, earlier this year, Fr. Rex Hurrell asked in ‘the Coracle’ if anyone had hymns to Cornish and Celtic Saints, I sent him a copy. As reported in the August edition of ‘St. Elvan’s Round’, Fr. Rex was able to get this translated, first into French, then into English and finally put to verse with a suggested tune of St. Stephen. The hymn was sung for the first time in English on St. Sithney’s Day, Sunday 19th September 2004, as the gradual during the Eucharist when the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt. Revd. Roy Screech was the Celebrant and Preacher.
At the same weekend, Mr. Roger Henley, a nephew of Mrs. Jean Willey, was staying with her so that he could be installed at Truro as a new Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd, with the Bardic name of Gwas Lowenek (meaning Jolly Fellow).
On his return home he translated the hymn into the Cornish language and a copy is set out below.
Further background information, by Roger Henley
As can be seen from the following pages, the English version by Pamela Bousefield is a direct translation of the French version, with no attempt made to rhyme or scan, which must have been difficult for the congregation to sing. My Cornish version was almost a direct translation of the English, with reference back to the French where necessary, and resulted in the same difficulties for the congregation. Luckily, few, if any, of them know enough Cornish to attempt to sing it.
In 2005, a new English version was written by Roderic Dunnett, music critic of the “Church Times” and freelance writer for “The Independent”. Whilst this strays somewhat from the Breton original, it expresses similar sentiments, and, rhyming and scanning, it fits the hymn tune “St. Stephen” perfectly.
I have used Roderic Dunnett’s version as the basis for my new translation, which also rhymes, scans and fits the tune. Hopefully, in the future, when the use of Cornish has become more widespread, the congregation might sing my version. I pray the Lord will spare me to hear it!
Original Breton Hymn
Pedern da Saint Sezni
Diskan
O Saint Sezni, c’hwi ’pens brema
Eur gurunenn euz ar c’heera
Teurvezit, en ano Doue
Kleved pedern ha pugale?
1,
E Breiz-Veur, ar zant ze ganet
E tro ar bloaz pevar c’hantved
E dad, e vamm ’oa teud a feiz
Savet ’voe e doujans Doue
Diskan
2,
Klevit pedern al labourer
Ha roit glizhenn d’ar parkeier
Deuit d’e sikour’n e ezhommou
Ha deiz ha noz, en ha meulo
Diskan
3,
Saint Sezni, paeron hon fud-koz
Hon diwallit ha deiz ha noz
Diouz ar bed ar fallagriez
Mirit’n touez peoch ha furnez
Diskan
Prayer to Saint Sithney
Translated from the French by Pamela Bousefield, of St. Breward.
Chorus
O Saint Sithney, you now have
A most beautiful crown
In the name of God, will you hear
The prayer of your children?
1,
The Saint was born in Great Britain
About the year 400
His father and mother were people of faith
He was brought up in the fear of God
Chorus
2,
Hear the prayer of the ploughman
And send dew upon the fields
Come to satisfy his needs
And he will praise you day and night
Chorus
3,
Saint Sithney, patron saint of our ancestors
Protect us day and night
From the wickedness of the world
Preserve peace and wisdom among us
Chorus
Prayer to Saint Sithney
Arranged by Roderic Dunnett, Music Critic of the “Church Times” and freelance writer for “The Independent”.
Chorus
O glorious Sithney, nobly clad
In beauteous, saintly crown,
Pray hear your faithful children’s cry
Through Jesus Christ, God’s Son!
1,
Most Godly Saint, in Britain’s land
Brought up, as Rome declined *
Your father, mother, in the faith
Of right, God-fearing mind
Chorus
2,
Attend the farmer’s urgent prayer,
Send dew upon the fields;
Assist our needs, that you may hear
The praise each new day yields.
Chorus
3,
O Sithney, of our forbears Saint,
Protect us day and night
And to our weak, indifferent world
Bring wisdom, peace and light
Chorus
* a reference to the withdrawal of soldiers of the Roman Empire at the beginning of the 5th century, which, scholars tell us, enabled the Celtic missionaries to pursue their righteous endeavours.
Pysadow dhe Sen Sydhni
Translation by Roger Henley, Gwas Lowenek, of Roderic Dunnett’s English version
Diskan
Sydhni gloryus, gwiskys yn splann,
Dha gurun sansel yw.
Goslow orth kri dha fleghes len
Dre Yesu Krist, Mab Dyw!
1,
Sens Dywekka, yn Breten Veur
Orth difyk Rom, genys.
Dha das, dha vamm, o tus a fydh
Own a Dhyw y’ga brys
Diskan
2,
Klyw pysadow an aradror
Ro gluth war oll y dir.
Deus dh’agan sokor, ni a’th pys,
May fo dhis lawa gwir.
Diskan
3,
Sydhni, tasek agan hendas,
Ha dydh ha nos difres.
Dro dhe’n norvys, gwann ha myglys,
Golow, skentoleth, kres
Diskan
