Brannoc of Braunton
Saint Brannoc | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6th century supposedly Wales |
| Died | Braunton in North Devon |
| Venerated in | Anglican Communion Orthodox Church[1] Roman Catholicism |
| Major shrine | Braunton in North Devon (destroyed) |
| Feast | 26 June or 7 January. |
Brannoc of Braunton or Saint Brannock was a Christian saint associated with the village of Braunton in the English county of Devon. His feast is 7 January.
Life
[edit]The history of St Brannoc is confused – some sources conflate him with Saint Brynach, however Exeter Cathedral celebrates the feast of Brynach on 7 April and that of Brannoc on 7 January so it is unlikely that they are the same saint.[2][3] In contrast, Braunton celebrates St Brannock's Day on the 26 June.
Brannock migrated from South Wales to establish a monastery at Braunton in the 6th century.[4][5] Braunton church was dedicated to him from at least 854 and in the Middle Ages it was believed that he was buried in the church[6] with both William of Worcester and Leland stating that he was buried there.[7] Tradition states that he first built his church on a hill overlooking Braunton, but it collapsed. In a dream he was told to look for a sow and seven piglets for the site to build his new church. This story is commemorated in one of the stained glass windows and in a roof boss of St Brannock's Church, Braunton.[2]
Records suggest that St Winifred's Church, Branscombe held St Brannoc's arm as a relic, though it was taken to Milton Abbey in Dorset in 933 on the orders of King Athelstan.[8]
Notes
[edit]- ^ January 20 / January 7. https://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/htc/orthodox-calendar/
- ^ a b "St. Brannock, Abbot of Braunton". Celtic and Old English Saints. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ Farmer, David (January 2011). The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. ISBN 9780199596607. Retrieved 14 July 2019 – via Oxford Index.
- ^ Stanton, Father Richard (1887). "Saint Brannock, Abbot, Confessor, c.570". Menology of England and Wales. Retrieved 16 July 2019 – via catholicsaints.info.
- ^ Monks of Ramsgate (1921). "Brannock". Book of Saints. Retrieved 16 July 2019 – via catholicsaints.info.
- ^ Orme, Nicholas (1996). English Church Dedications. Exeter: University of Exeter Press. ISBN 0-85989-516-5.
- ^ Hoskins, W.G. (2003). Devon. Andover, Hampshire, UK: Philimore & Co. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-86077-270-2.
- ^ "St Winifred, Branscombe", National Churches Trust
External links
[edit]- St.Brannock's church web site Retrieved May 2012
- Brief biography of St Brannock Retrieved May 2012
