5th Century Church of St Piran emerges from the sand in Cornwall.

http://www.holidaysincornwall.com/work-begins-to-uncover-one-of-britains-oldest-chapels-in-cornwall/

A 5th century chapel that was buried 30 years ago in Cornwall is being uncovered. It’s believed to be the oldest in Britain.

St Piran emerges from the sand…

The excavation has begun to uncover St Piran’s Oratory in Cornwall.The week-long project, to be carried out by a team of volunteers led by archaeologists, is the culmination of a 15 year campaign by the St Piran Trust.

Buried to protect it from the elements in 1980, the 5th century stone structure set in sand dunes above Perranporth, is claimed by some historians to be the oldest Christian building in Britain. 

St Piran

The site of the oratory of St Piran is in the extensive sand dunes known as Penhale Sands.^[7] Legend has it that St Piran landed on Perran beach from his native Ireland and built the oratory in the Irish style. The first oratory was probably built of wattle and daub and replaced in stone at a later date. The oratory was very simple in plan and was barely 30 feet (9.1 m) long.

The encroachment of the sand led to the oratory being abandoned in the 10th century. The noted 17th century antiquary Richard Carew wrote: St Piran too well brooketh his name in Sabuloe: for the sand carried up by the north wind from the seashore daily continueth covering and marring the land adjoinant, so as the distress of this deluge drove the inhabitants to remove their church. Howbeit when it meeteth with any crossing brook, the same (by a secret apathy) restraineth and barreth his farther encroaching that way. It was in consequence of this notion that the inhabitants, thinking such situation secure, removed their church only about 300 yards, it being on the opposite side of the brook.^[8]

When the oratory was abandoned, another church (now known as St Piran's Old Church, 50°21′57.04″N 5°8′2.88″W) was built nearby on the inland side of the stream. As mentioned by Carew (above) it was thought the stream would protect the church from encroachment by sand. This proved to be the case for several hundred years and the church, completed by the 12th century, was enlarged in 1462. However, mining for tin caused the stream to dry up and eventually the church was engulfed by the dunes. The last service was held in 1795 after which the old church was partially dismantled and the materials used to build a new church inland. However, the old church's graveyard was used for burials until 1835 before sand enveloped it.^[9] 

St Piran's flag

The oratory site was excavated in 1910 but the remains of the stone building are now buried in the sand again. The site of St Piran's Old Church and the 10th century cross next to it was excavated in 1919.^[10][11]

St Piran's Cross (believed to be the earliest recorded stone cross in Cornwall) stands in the dunes between the oratory site and the graveyard of the old church. It is dedicated to tinners and miners and stands 8 feet (2.4 m) high.^[12]

In Saxon times there was also a monastery (known as Lanpiran or Lamberran) near the oratory site but it was disendowed c1085 by Robert of Mortain.^[6] The relics of St Piran were preserved in St Prian Old Church which became a centre of pilgrimage. The relics are recorded in an inventory made in 1281 and were still venerated in the reign of Queen Mary I according to Nicholas Roscarrock's account.
(WIKI)