Saint Decuman was one of the Celtic saints who came to Somerset from South Wales during the 7th century, arriving on a raft (or his cloak) with a cow for a companion. Celtic Christianity, or Insular Christianity (sometimes called the Celtic Church or the British Church) broadly refers to the Early Medieval A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county A raft is any flat floating structure for travel over water It is the most basic of Boat design characterized by the absence of a hull. There he was a pastor and physician to the local inhabitants.
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Biography
Decuman is said to have been born of noble parents at Rhoscrowther in Pembrokeshire, Wales where the church is dedicated to him. Rhoscrowther is a village and parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales, 9 km west of Pembroke, near the south shore of Milford Haven. Geography Pembrokeshire is a maritime County, bordered by the sea on three sides by Ceredigion (Cardiganshire to the northeast and by He also had a chapel at nearby Pwllcrochan. Wishing to escape from wordly companions he crossed the Bristol Channel. The Bristol Channel ( Môr Hafren) is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset He landed at Dunster and became a hermit at nearby Watchet, living from the produce of his cow. Dunster is a village in west Somerset, England, situated on the Bristol Channel coast 2 Watchet is a Harbour Town and Civil parish in the English county of Somerset, with an approximate There he is said to have been killed by a pagan. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world
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. Asp is the modern Anglicization of the word Aspis which in Antiquity referred to any one of several Venomous snake species found in the Nile . . . ". 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 AD706, 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. A tithe (from Old English teogoþa "tenth" is a one-tenth part of something paid as a (usually voluntary contribution or as a Tax or levy
Ancient Parish
St Decuman was a parish in the hundred of Williton and Freemanors. This parish included Watchet, Williton and many hamlets. Watchet is a Harbour Town and Civil parish in the English county of Somerset, with an approximate Williton is a medium-sized village in West Somerset. It has many of the facilities of a small town being the administrative centre for the district 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 church was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries when the central tower was demolished and the present one built at the west end. For other buildings in Normandy see Architecture of Normandy. The church was described by Francis Eales (""St Decumans Church""} in 1932, summarised as:-
- 1. Fine geometrical east window with original tracery of the end of the 13th century.
- 2. Remarkable perpendicular window tracery in the south isle
- 3. English Gothic is the name of the Architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520 Fine north isle of later perpendicular work
- 4. Splendid series of wagon roofs with rich carving
- 5. Considerable portions of rood screen in nave and south aisle
- 6. The rood screen (also choir screen or chancel screen) is a common feature in late Medieval parish Church architecture. Stately perpendicular west tower
- 7. Good perpendicular font
- 8. Fine 13th century tiles
- 9. Early 17th century pulpit
- 10. A pulpit (from Latin pulpitum "scaffold" "platform" "stage" is a small elevated platform where a member of the clergy stands Monuments to Wyndhams (also Sydenhams and Orchards)
- 11. Modern altar and glass in south chapel
- 12. 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.
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