Saint Decuman
Encyclopedia
Decuman was one of the Celtic
saint
s who came to Somerset
from South Wales during the 7th century, arriving on a raft
(or his cloak) with a cow for a companion. There he was a pastor and physician
to the local inhabitants.
in Pembrokeshire
, Wales
where the church is dedicated to him. He also had a chapel at nearby Pwllcrochan. Wishing to escape from worldly companions he crossed the Bristol Channel
and landed at Dunster
: he then became a hermit at nearby Watchet
, living from the produce of his cow.
There he is said to have been killed by a pagan. Legend tells that the holy man's head was cut off by "a certain man more venomous than an asp
, more poisonous than the adder
...." Beheading is a legend which is found associated with several Celtic saints, but in this variant, the saint miraculously picks up his head, washes it, and replaces it.
After this the local people assisted Decuman to build the church (Legends and Folklore of Watchet — Ben Norman).
Today the spring of pure water dedicated to him is still to be found close to the church at Watchet, in Somerset.
Decuman is said to have died in AD 706, though this seems rather late for a Celtic saint: his feast day was 27 August. The name is said to derive from the Latin "decumanus", a farmer of tithes. The saint is associated with several other places in south Wales and also with Digibma, near Helstone
in Cornwall.
, Williton
and many hamlets. It was divided into the civil parishes of Watchet and Williton in 1904.
The Norman
church was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries when the central tower was demolished and the present one built at the west end. The church was described by Francis Eeles ("St Decuman's Church") in 1932, summarised as:-
The organ was presented to the church in 1933 by W. Wyndham.
with three churches in the townlands Ballyconnick, Killag, and Killiane Little dedicated to him. All of them are now in ruins.
Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
saint
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...
s who came to Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
from South Wales during the 7th century, arriving on a raft
Raft
A raft is any flat structure for support or transportation over water. It is the most basic of boat design, characterized by the absence of a hull...
(or his cloak) with a cow for a companion. There he was a pastor and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
to the local inhabitants.
Life and cult
Decuman is said to have been born of noble parents at RhoscrowtherRhoscrowther
Rhoscrowther is a village and former civil parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales, west of Pembroke, near the south shore of Milford Haven. It is part of the community of Hundleton....
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
where the church is dedicated to him. He also had a chapel at nearby Pwllcrochan. Wishing to escape from worldly companions he crossed the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
and landed at Dunster
Dunster
Dunster is a village and civil parish in west Somerset, England, situated on the Bristol Channel coast south-southeast of Minehead and northwest of Taunton. The village has a population of 862 .The village has numerous restaurants and three pubs...
: he then became a hermit at nearby Watchet
Watchet
Watchet is a harbour town and civil parish in the English county of Somerset, with an approximate population of 4,400. It is situated west of Bridgwater, north-west of Taunton, and east of Minehead. The parish includes the hamlet of Beggearn Huish...
, living from the produce of his cow.
There he is said to have been killed by a pagan. Legend tells that the holy man's head was cut off by "a certain man more venomous than an asp
Asp (reptile)
Asp is the modern Anglicisation of the word aspis, which in antiquity referred to any one of several venomous snake species found in the Nile region. It is believed that the aspis referred to in Egyptian mythology is the modern Egyptian cobra....
, more poisonous than the adder
Vipera berus
Vipera berus, the common European adder or common European viper, is a venomous viper species that is extremely widespread and can be found throughout most of Western Europe and all the way to Far East Asia. Known by a host of common names including Common adder and Common viper, adders have been...
...." Beheading is a legend which is found associated with several Celtic saints, but in this variant, the saint miraculously picks up his head, washes it, and replaces it.
Cephalophore
A cephalophore is a saint who is generally depicted carrying his or her own head; in art, this was usually meant to signify that the subject in question had been martyred by beheading....
After this the local people assisted Decuman to build the church (Legends and Folklore of Watchet — Ben Norman).
Today the spring of pure water dedicated to him is still to be found close to the church at Watchet, in Somerset.
Decuman is said to have died in AD 706, though this seems rather late for a Celtic saint: his feast day was 27 August. The name is said to derive from the Latin "decumanus", a farmer of tithes. The saint is associated with several other places in south Wales and also with Digibma, near Helstone
Helstone
Helstone is a settlement in north Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated two miles southwest of Camelford on the A39 road.-History:...
in Cornwall.
Ancient parish
St Decuman was a parish in the hundred of Williton and Freemanors. This parish included WatchetWatchet
Watchet is a harbour town and civil parish in the English county of Somerset, with an approximate population of 4,400. It is situated west of Bridgwater, north-west of Taunton, and east of Minehead. The parish includes the hamlet of Beggearn Huish...
, Williton
Williton
Williton is a medium-sized village and civil parish in West Somerset, England. It has many of the facilities of a small town, being the administrative centre for the district. Williton is situated at the junction of the A39, A358 and B3191 roads...
and many hamlets. It was divided into the civil parishes of Watchet and Williton in 1904.
Church
St Decuman's church is probably on an ancient pre-Christian site, at ST 066427, on a hill top between Watchet and Williton. An earlier church was situated by the sea at Dawes castle (probably the original site of Watchet) but was abandoned because of sea erosion. When the church was rebuilt in the 12th century it appears that the bones of St Decuman were moved. The chancel of the present church is unusually wide and may have housed the tomb of St Decuman. The "Translation of Saint Decuman" used to be celebrated.The Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
church was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries when the central tower was demolished and the present one built at the west end. The church was described by Francis Eeles ("St Decuman's Church") in 1932, summarised as:-
- Fine geometrical east window with original tracery of the end of the 13th century.
- Remarkable perpendicular window tracery in the south isle
- Fine north isle of later perpendicular work
- Splendid series of wagon roofs with rich carving
- Considerable portions of rood screenRood screenThe rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
in nave and south aisle - Stately perpendicular west tower
- Good perpendicular font
- Fine 13th century tiles
- Early 17th century pulpitPulpitPulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
- Monuments to Wyndhams (also Sydenhams and Orchards)
- Modern altar and glass in south chapel
- Remains of churchyard cross.
The organ was presented to the church in 1933 by W. Wyndham.
Well
St Decuman's well is below the church. It produces clear water and is likely to have been regarded as a sacred site since pagan times. The well was an object of veneration into the 16th century. It was recently restored jointly by the church and the local pagan society. It is still used occasionally for ceremonies and provides a place for quiet contemplation.Wexford
St. Decuman was under the names of St. Degumen or St. Tenen also venerated in County WexfordCounty Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
with three churches in the townlands Ballyconnick, Killag, and Killiane Little dedicated to him. All of them are now in ruins.