Breage
Encyclopedia
Breage, also known as Breaca, Briac, etc., is a saint
venerated in Cornwall
and southwestern Britain. According to her late hagiography
, she was an Irish
nun
of the 5th or 6th century who founded a church in Cornwall. The village
and civil parish of Breage
in Cornwall are named after her, and the local Breage Parish Church
is dedicated to her.
. However, little else is known of Saint Breage or her early cultus
. She was the subject of a medieval hagiography
, probably written in the 14th or 15th century. The work is lost, but the English antiquarian John Leland recorded some extracts in his Itinerary around 1540. The surviving text suggests an initial composition at or for Breage Church, as it gives Breage precedence over other saints of the region and contains a number of references to local places. The narrative is late and replete with stock elements and borrowings from other works, and as such is not considered historical. However, the author was certainly well versed in the hagiographical tradition, drawing from a Life of Brigid of Kildare
, and evidently borrowing from Breton
traditions of Saint Sithney
and Lives of the local saints Elwen
, Ia
, and Gwinear.
According to Leland's text, Breage was born in the region of Lagonia and Ultonia in Ireland
, an unclear description perhaps referring to Leinster
and Ulster
. She became a nun at an oratory
founded by Saint Brigid of Kildare
at Campus Breace (the Plain of Breague; modern Mag Breg in County Meath
). Around 460, she traveled to Cornwall
with a company of seven other Irish saints, Germoe, Senanus (Sithney
), Mavuanus (perhaps Mawnan
), Elwen, Crowan, Helena, and Tecla. They settled at Revyer on the River Hayle
, but some of them were killed by the local ruler Tewder or Theodoric, a tyrant appearing regularly in Cornish hagiographical works. Undeterred, Breage traveled through Cornwall, visiting the hill of Pencaire and establishing a church at Trenewith or Chynoweth. After her death the church was moved to its present location, and many miracles occurred at her tomb.
Other bits of traditions about Breage have also come down. The chronicler William Worcester
wrote in 1478 that Breage's feast day was celebrated on May 1, and that she was said to be buried at the church dedicated to her. An idiom recorded in nearby Germoe
in the 18th century said that while that village's patron saint Germoe was a king, "Breage was a midwife". In the 19th century, residents of St Levan
held that Breage was the sister of the town's saint Selevan or Salaman. In later times Breage's feast day was celebrated on June 4, and was evidently once a prominent feast in Cornwall and the Diocese of Exeter
in Devon
. A Breage Fair is held on the third Monday in June.
As such the traditions surrounding Breage appear to be later legend attached to a figure whose true history had been lost. There was a saint with a similar name active in the area during the Early Middle Ages, Brioc
, whose feast day was May 1, the same day given for Breage by William Worcester. Brioc was male, but it is not uncommon for the gender of poorly remembered saints to have been switched over the years. In Britanny there was also a Saint Briac, who gave his name to a number of places in the region. However, all medieval mentions of Breage regard her as female, complicating an identification with similarly named male saints.
Later brief accounts of Breage, mostly adapted from Leland, appear in the works of Alban Butler
and Sabine Baring-Gould
.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
venerated in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and southwestern Britain. According to her late hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
, she was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
of the 5th or 6th century who founded a church in Cornwall. The village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish of Breage
Breage, Cornwall
Breage is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated three miles west of Helston....
in Cornwall are named after her, and the local Breage Parish Church
Breage Parish Church
Breage Parish Church is the Anglican parish church of the parish of Breage, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is dedicated to Saint Breage or Breaca, said to have been an Irish nun who came to Cornwall in the 5th century.-Description:...
is dedicated to her.
Traditions
Breage Church was established by 1170, giving its name to the village and parish of BreageBreage, Cornwall
Breage is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated three miles west of Helston....
. However, little else is known of Saint Breage or her early cultus
Cult (religious practice)
In traditional usage, the cult of a religion, quite apart from its sacred writings , its theology or myths, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance, the neglect of which is the definition of impiety. Cult in this primary sense is...
. She was the subject of a medieval hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
, probably written in the 14th or 15th century. The work is lost, but the English antiquarian John Leland recorded some extracts in his Itinerary around 1540. The surviving text suggests an initial composition at or for Breage Church, as it gives Breage precedence over other saints of the region and contains a number of references to local places. The narrative is late and replete with stock elements and borrowings from other works, and as such is not considered historical. However, the author was certainly well versed in the hagiographical tradition, drawing from a Life of Brigid of Kildare
Brigid of Kildare
Saint Brigit of Kildare, or Brigit of Ireland , nicknamed Mary of the Gael is one of Ireland's patron saints along with Saints Patrick and Columba...
, and evidently borrowing from Breton
Breton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
traditions of Saint Sithney
Saint Sithney
Saint Sithney is the patron saint of mad dogs.A Breton folk story, an adaptation of a tale associated with Ciarán of Saighir, states that God asked Sithney to be the patron saint of girls seeking husbands, but Sithney said he would rather be the patron saint of mad dogs and get some rest.He is...
and Lives of the local saints Elwen
Elwen
Elwen was the name of an early saint or saints venerated in Cornwall and Brittany. The hagiographical material asserts that he came to Cornwall from Ireland in the company of Breage and six others, but this is attested late...
, Ia
Ia of Cornwall
Saint Ia of Cornwall was a 5th or 6th century Cornish evangelist and martyr.Ia was said to have been an Irish princess, the sister of Saint Erc. She was a spiritual student of Saint Baricus and travelled as a missionary to Cornwall where she joined Saints Fingar and Piala...
, and Gwinear.
According to Leland's text, Breage was born in the region of Lagonia and Ultonia in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, an unclear description perhaps referring to Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
and Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. She became a nun at an oratory
Oratory
Oratory is a type of public speaking.Oratory may also refer to:* Oratory , a power metal band* Oratory , a place of worship* a religious order such as** Oratory of Saint Philip Neri ** Oratory of Jesus...
founded by Saint Brigid of Kildare
Brigid of Kildare
Saint Brigit of Kildare, or Brigit of Ireland , nicknamed Mary of the Gael is one of Ireland's patron saints along with Saints Patrick and Columba...
at Campus Breace (the Plain of Breague; modern Mag Breg in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
). Around 460, she traveled to Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
with a company of seven other Irish saints, Germoe, Senanus (Sithney
Saint Sithney
Saint Sithney is the patron saint of mad dogs.A Breton folk story, an adaptation of a tale associated with Ciarán of Saighir, states that God asked Sithney to be the patron saint of girls seeking husbands, but Sithney said he would rather be the patron saint of mad dogs and get some rest.He is...
), Mavuanus (perhaps Mawnan
Mawnan
Mawnan is a civil parish in south Cornwall, United Kingdom . It is situated in the former administrative district of Kerrier and is bounded to the south by the Helford River, to the east by the sea, and to the west by Constantine parish...
), Elwen, Crowan, Helena, and Tecla. They settled at Revyer on the River Hayle
River Hayle
The River Hayle is a small river in west Cornwall, UK which issues into St Ives Bay at Hayle on Cornwall's Atlantic coast.The River Hayle is approx 12 miles long and it rises south-west of Crowan village. Its course is west for approx 5 miles...
, but some of them were killed by the local ruler Tewder or Theodoric, a tyrant appearing regularly in Cornish hagiographical works. Undeterred, Breage traveled through Cornwall, visiting the hill of Pencaire and establishing a church at Trenewith or Chynoweth. After her death the church was moved to its present location, and many miracles occurred at her tomb.
Other bits of traditions about Breage have also come down. The chronicler William Worcester
William Worcester
William Worcester , was an English chronicler and antiquary.-Life:He was a son of William of Worcester, a Bristol citizen, and is sometimes called William Botoner, his mother being a daughter of Thomas Botoner from Catalonia....
wrote in 1478 that Breage's feast day was celebrated on May 1, and that she was said to be buried at the church dedicated to her. An idiom recorded in nearby Germoe
Germoe
Germoe is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Germoe village, the parish's principal settlement and church town, is situated approximately five miles west of Helston and seven miles east of Penzance. The A394 Penzance to Helston road runs along the southern boundary of the...
in the 18th century said that while that village's patron saint Germoe was a king, "Breage was a midwife". In the 19th century, residents of St Levan
St Levan
St Levan is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately eight miles south west of Penzance....
held that Breage was the sister of the town's saint Selevan or Salaman. In later times Breage's feast day was celebrated on June 4, and was evidently once a prominent feast in Cornwall and the Diocese of Exeter
Diocese of Exeter
The Diocese of Exeter is a Church of England diocese covering the county of Devon. It is one of the largest dioceses in England. The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter is the seat of the diocesan bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter. It is part of the Province of...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. A Breage Fair is held on the third Monday in June.
Identity
Since the traditions about Breage that have come down are late, the veracity of the details are doubted. The hagiography is replete with stock elements: her association with other locally venerated saints as companions, her conflict with a heathen tyrant, and her establishment as a hermit in a remote part of the parish that was later named for her. Her Irish origin is suspect, as in this period in Cornwall it was common to attribute a fabricated Irish connection to obscure saints. In Breage's case it may have been suggested by the similarity between her name and the Campus Breace in the Life of Brigid.As such the traditions surrounding Breage appear to be later legend attached to a figure whose true history had been lost. There was a saint with a similar name active in the area during the Early Middle Ages, Brioc
Brioc
Saint Brioc was an early 6th century Welshman who became the first Abbot of Saint-Brieuc in Brittany. He is one of the seven founder saints of Brittany.Very little is known about his early life, as his 9th century 'life' is not altogether reliable...
, whose feast day was May 1, the same day given for Breage by William Worcester. Brioc was male, but it is not uncommon for the gender of poorly remembered saints to have been switched over the years. In Britanny there was also a Saint Briac, who gave his name to a number of places in the region. However, all medieval mentions of Breage regard her as female, complicating an identification with similarly named male saints.
Later brief accounts of Breage, mostly adapted from Leland, appear in the works of Alban Butler
Alban Butler
Alban Butler , English Roman Catholic priest and hagiographer, was born at Appletree, Northamptonshire.He was educated at the English College, Douai, where on his ordination to the priesthood in 1735 he held successively the chairs of philosophy and divinity...
and Sabine Baring-Gould
Sabine Baring-Gould
The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould was an English hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. His bibliography consists of more than 1240 publications, though this list continues to grow. His family home, Lew Trenchard Manor near Okehampton, Devon, has been preserved as he had it...
.