I'm still thinking about Mermaids this week. Today's story, "The Mermaid of Zennor," was first retold by William Bottrell in Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Vol. 2, 1873. Zennor is a village in Cornwall, England. There, at St. Senara's church, is a 15th-century carved bench-end that depicts a mermaid, which was probably the inspiration for the tale. I'm relating the version of the story I like best. I read it here.
Long ago, a beautiful and richly dressed woman occasionally attended services at St. Senara's Church in Zennor, and sometimes at Morvah. The parishioners were enchanted by her beauty and her lovely singing voice. She had many would-be suitors, on of whom was Mathey Trewella. Mathey was handsome and had the best singing voice in the village. After services one day, he followed the mysterious lady toward the cliffs. Neither were ever seen at services again.
Years passed and eventually Mathey's disappearance faded in the village's memory. Until one Sunday a ship...