A HERMIT SAINT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19976, 19 June 1928, Page 9

A HERMIT SAINT.

ORIGIN OF A CHURCH. STRANGE LEGEND REVIVED. Interesting discoveries have recently been inado regarding St. Decuman's Church, Watchet, Somerset, which stands on a hill overlooking the Bristol Channel. St. Decuman's was built on the site of a Saxon church of a style similar to part of Foantains Abbey. On this site a chantry chapel, tho " Chapel of the Holy Cross," was founded by the Fitzurse family. The chapel was demolished after the Reformation, but remains of it still exist in the present church, and it is being restored to its former condition. It is possible that this is tho place where Reginald Fitzurse, ope of the murderers of Thomas a'Becket, did penance for his crime, for ho gave St. Decuman's to found a prebend in Wells Cathedral. Recent researches have revealed that the church is doubly dedicated, the chapel being dedicated to St. Peter and the other parts of the building to St. Decuman, who, according to tradition, crossed from Wales about 700 A.D. on a hurdle, and lived a hermit's life ne&i Watchet. His only companion appears to have been a cow, which accompanied him in all his wanderings. While St. Decuman was praying one day a robber came behind him and cut off his head. Immediately tho decapitated saint took up his head and carried to the stream below his hut, and wasiied away the. blood. Later, it is said, the people of the district, stricken with remorse, erected a church on the site. The legend is recognised in the new east window for the chapel, St. Peter being shown presenting St, Decuman (Degeman) to the chapel. St. Decuman is shown carrying his old church in his hands.