THE CELTIC CHURCH ON EXMOOR
Celtic saints
Although Christianity spread to Britain in Roman times, the.population of Exmoor, part of the western British kingdom of Dumnonia, was largely left to its pagan traditions. When the Romans left in 410, Britain was gradually occupied by Anglo-Saxon invaders, who were also pagan at first. There are local legends of the British King Arthur defeating the Saxons at the Battle of Badon Hill, reputedly in the Exmoor area, in the early 6th century. It is unlikely, however, that such a battle was fought as far west, the Dumnonii holding back the Saxon advance into Somerset for another hundred years. It was during this time that the first Christian missionaries came to Exmoor and legends surrounding them later became intertwined with those of King Arthur. The evangelisation of the Saxons started with the landing of St Augustine in Kent in 597, whilst that of the Celts started in Ireland in the early 5th century, spreading to Exmoor a century later. Missionaries came to Exmoor via other Celtic lands: Ireland, Wales and Brittany. The dedications of Exmoor churches to Celtic saints such as Petrock, Beuno, Brendan, Dubricius, Carantoc, Decuman and Salwyn suggest that followers of these saints or the saints themselves came to Exmoor. They were monks and not known as saints in their time. Centuries later they were accredited with miracles and canonised, partly to gain financial support for their churches.
Meanwhile, the Saxons had created their own neighbouring kingdom of Wessex and Cenwealh, King of Wessex, was converted to Christianity by Ann in 645. He pushed the border of Wessex through to the Parrett at the Battle of Penselwood in 658 and as far as Crediton at the Battle of Posbury in 661. The Dumnonian capital of Isca (Exeter) was taken soon after and by 680 St Boniface was being educated there at a Celtic Christian monastery. Exmoor, North Devon and Cornwall, known as West Wales, held out against the Saxons for a long time. The Saxons set up a fortress at Taunton in 710 but were pushed back in 722. A second battle of Badon Hill was fought and the Saxons were again pushed back. About this time North Devon's own saint, Urith or Hieritha, became a Christian martyr. An invasion of Cornwall in 815 was repulsed, the final and decisive victory for the Saxons against the Dumnonii coming in 838. By that time the Saxons had settled the Exmoor area. Then both Saxons and British were Christians and the communities had gradually become integrated under the Roman Catholic church. By 936 the Celtic church had disappeared in the West Country. The Saxons referred to the British as 'Wealcynn' or Welsh and the Welsh language remained on Exmoor throughout Saxon times, only disappearing in the West Country in the 18th century.
St Brendan
St. Brendan is the saint to whom the parish church at Brendon is dedicated. He was born in County Kerry, Ireland, (probably at Tralee) in the year 484. He was educated by St Ita and later by St Erc. The latter ordained him as a priest in 512. Between the years 512 and 530 he built monastic cells at Ardfert and Shanakeel, at the foot of Brandon Hill in Kerry, where he had his hermitage. From Ardfert he set out on his famous voyage of seven years, accompanied by a number of monks. On his return he established the See of Ardfert. He journeyed afterwards to Wales and Iona. After a three years’ mission in Britain, he returned to Ireland and concerned himself with charitable works in the region of Leinster. He founded another see at Annaghdown, and at least four churches in different counties of Ireland. He founded a monastery in County Clare 550 and another at Clonfert 557. There St Brendan died in an advanced old age, in 583. His feast day is May 16.
To the account of St Brendan's voyage by St Aengus at the close of the eighth century many fantastic details have been added. In the "Navagation" he is described as searching for the Isles of the Blessed, touching the Canaries, and even discovering America. When St Brendan’s narration of the trip was transcribed and read after his return, crowds of pilgrims and students came to Ardfert, and it was necessary to found many religious houses at various sites for those who wished to live under the saint’s direction. Although possible, it is unlikely that he ever came to Exmoor and it was probably one of his disciples who founded the little church at Cheriton that bore his name. The church became redundant in the 18th century, when a new one was built nearer to Brendon. The village itself is unlikely to have been named after the saint.
St Petrock
Three Exmoor parish churches: Timberscombe, West Anstey and the old church at Parracombe, are dedicated to St Petrock. He is one of the West Country's most celebrated saints, with 21 churches named after him in Devon alone. For a man of the 6th century he certainly got around, but his chief mission was to convert the Celts of Dumnonia to the Christian religion. When he was about 40 he made his base or minster at Padstow, which means Petrock's church, and set off on his missions around Dumnonia. He almost certainly came to Exmoor, although not necessarily to all the places named after him, as his monks or disciples may have set up churches in his name. There is a legend that he once lived at Charles, where there was a chapel dedicated to him. His feast day is June 4th.
Also known as Petroc; Pedrog; Perreux or Petrocus, he was born in Wales, possibly the younger son of Welsh King Glywys. On his father's death, the people of Glywysing called for Petrock to take the crown of one the country's sub-divisions, but Petrock wanted a religious life and went to study in Ireland with some of his friends. From there they went to Cornwall and settled at Lanwethinoc (Padstow). Directed by St Samson to the hermitage of St Wethnoc, Wethnoc agreed to give his cell to Petrock in order that he could found a monastery on the site. After thirty years as abbot, Petrock made a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem, at which time he is also reputed to have reached the Indian Ocean, where he lived for some time as a hermit on an island. He returned to Cornwall, built a chapel at Little Petherick near Padstow, and established a community of his followers. He then left his monastery at Llanwethinoc to live in woods at Nanceventon, encountering the hermit St Guron there. Guron moved south, allowing Petrock, with the backing of King Constantine, to establish a monastery called Bothmena (the Abode of Monks) at the site of the hermitage. Petrock died in 594 at Treravel while visiting some of his disciples. He was buried at Padstow but his remains were later returned to the monastery at Bothmena (Bodmin). In 1994 the casket in which his remains had been kept was stolen. Much to the relief of the Cornish, it was later recovered. The casket, a sort of roofed box made of ivory plates bound with brass and decorated with medallions, was made by Arab craftsmen in Sicily in the 12th century. Ironically it was originally purchased to bring back St Petrock's bones, which had been stolen and taken to Brittany, another place where he had lived and founded churches.
We know about Petrock from three medieval books of the lives of saints. They were copied from earlier books and the saint's miracles were embellished in the process. In these stories Petrock seems to have had several encounters with dragons. He defeated a mighty serpent that King Teudar of Penwith had used to devour his enemies. One was brought to submission by him and he took it around on a lead. One day he came across mourners at a prince's funeral and they panicked at the site of his dragon. In recompence he brought the prince back to life. He had a way with animals and returned to Britain with a wolf companion he had met in India. One day a stag being hunted by King Constantine of Dumnonia sought sanctuary with the saint. When the king tried to kill the stag with his sword, Petrock paralysed his arm until he let the stag free. The king was converted and hung up his hunting horn, giving it to Petrock as a souvenir.
St Beuno
Also known as Beunor, Benno and Bennow, St Beuno is the saint to whom Culbone church is dedicated. The dedication was also said to be to Comban or St Culbone. Comban could be the Irish Saint Columbanus but there does not seem to be any reference to a St Culbone and the name is thought to be a corruption of Kil Beuno: the chuch of St Beuno. We know that he was born in Powys in the 6th century, a son of Beugi, and grandson of a Welsh prince. Educated in Herefordshire and Bangor, he evangelised much of North Wales and founded a monastery at Clynnog Fawr (Carnavonshire). He was ordained at Bangor, serving as abbot in Clynnog Fawr. He was uncle, spiritual teacher and guardian of St Winifred. Beuno became a visionary late in life.and died around.640 at Clynnog Fawr of natural causes. His feast day is April 21st.
Most of what we know of Beuno is from untrustworthy legend. Such legend says that when Winifred was beheaded by a jilted suitor, Beuno placed the severed head back on the body and Winifred lived. Miraculous healings were reported at his tomb, where people still sit sick children on a great stone slab in hopes of their healing. Legend also says that he was grand-nephew of King Arthur and came across to Porlock with St Dubricius.
St Dubricius
Also called Dubric, Dubricus, Dyffig, Dyfrig or Devereux, St Dubricius is the saint to whom Porlock parish church is dedicated. We know that he was born in 545 in Madley, Wales and he founded monasteries at Henllan and Moccas. These served as mother houses for other abbeys in Herefordshire, Gwent, and the Wye Valley. Dubricius is believed to have been the archbishop of Caerleon and also ruler of Caldey Island. He appointed St. Samson abbot and ordained him as a bishop. Having been sent to England to do missionary work, Dubricius returned to Wales to spend the last years of his life at Ynys Enlli (Bardsey), where he died in retirement in 612 A.D. His remains were moved from the island to Llandaff cathedral in 1120. He was an important saint in Wales and his disciples were active in the expansion of Christianity to the south west of England.
Geoffrey of Monmouth, who revived legends of King Arthur, said Dubricius was archbishop of Caerleon, Arthur's stronghold:
"After the death of Uther Pendragon, the leaders of the Britons assembled from their various provinces in the town of Silchester and there suggested to Dubricus, the archbishop of the City Of The Legions, that as their King he should crown Arthur, son of Uther. He called the other bishops to him and bestowed the crown of the kingdom upon Arthur. Arthur was a young man only fifteen years old ..."
According to legend, Bishop Dubricius became one of Arthur's advisors. Some say that he was Arthur's Merlin. He seems to have taken the nickname 'Merlin' and this may have been confused with the pagan 'Myrddin'. Many think that Arthur was not a mythical personage but a real man who defeated the invading Saxons at the battle of Badon Hill about 517 A.D. Although this was well before his known lifetime, St. Dubricius is said by some to have been present at the battle, and later to have been summoned by Arthur to solemnise his marriage to Guinevere.
St Carantock
Also called Carannog, Carantocus and Carentoc, St Carantock is the saint to whom Carhampton parish church is dedicated. He lived in the 6th century and is often confused with St Carantoc, another Welsh abbot, who lived in the 5th century. The latter aided St. Patrick in evangelising Ireland. He was a prince of the local aristocracy of Wales.
St. Carantock of Carhampton also visited Ireland as a missionary and on his return founded a monastery at Cernach, of which he was abbot. He led a group of monks who evangelised central Cornwall and is said to have migrated from there to Brittany, where he is known as Saint Caredec. Before the end of his life he returned to Cernach, where he died. He is patron of Crantock in Cornwall and Llangranog in Wales as well as Carhampton. There was historic reference to another Cornish church dedicated to Carantock, which had seven churchyards attached to it. Parishioners from these seven churches came annually to bring relics to the mother church and place them on special stones. Carantock was also worshiped at a chapel near Padstow, where he was venerated because of "his destroying worms when people drink the water of a well there". Carantock died in the middle of the sixth century and Bath Abbey, which held the living of Carhampton, kept his festival on May 16th.
St Carantock is best known from a 12th century manuscript of his life. According to this he was the son of Ceredig, King of Cardigan, but he chose the life of a hermit and lived in a cave at Llangranog, where there is a holy well. When the people tried to force him to succeed his father, he fled. According to legend, he cast his portable altar into the Bristol Channel and said he would set up a mission whereever it was was washed up. This happened to be at the mouth of a stream near Carhampton, where it was found by King Arthur. Carantock went to the king to ask his help to recover his altar, and Arthur asked him in return to tame a dragon that was troubling the land of Carrum. According to the legend, after Carantock had prayed to God, the dragon came running to him and bent his head to allow him to put his stole around his neck to lead him. This is said to have taken place at Dunster. Arthur had thought of making the altar into a table - but whatever was placed upon it was thrown off. The King gave it back to Carantock along with the land of Carrum, where he built a church. The town that grew up arround it was called Carrou, now supposed to be Carhampton.
St Salvyn
St Salvyn is the most obscure of the saints associated with Exmoor. He does not even appear to be recognised as a saint by the Catholic church. He seems to be one of the group of Welsh saints who came over to evangelise the West Country in the Dark Ages but we know little more than that. The parish church at Exford, now dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, was originally dedicated to him.