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(also known as Branwalader, Branwalator, Brelade, Breward)
Latin: Branuvelladurus
Branwallader is a Saint of the 6th century, feast day (in Jersey) of January 19th. He is also known as Branwalader, Branwalator, Brelade, Breward.
In Cornwall he has feast days on February 9 and June 6; January 19 may be the day of the translation of his relics. Branwallader was a Celtic or Welsh monk, who is said to have been a bishop in Jersey, although at the time, Jersey would have been part of the ancient diocese of Dol. As with many of the early saints of this part of the world, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction.
However, it is believed that Branwallader worked with Saint Samson in Cornwall and the Channel Islands, where he is remembered at Jersey in the Parish name St Brelade and at Cornwall in the Parish name of St. Breward . He may also have travelled with Samson to Brittany in northern France.
In the Exeter martyrology, Branwallader is described a the son of the Cornish king, Kenen.
King Athelstan, who founded Milton Abbey in Dorset, obtained some of the saint's relics (an arm or head) from Breton clerics fleeing Northmen and moved them to Milton Abbey in 935. William Worcestre claimed that the body itself was at Branston (or Branscombe) in Devon, and Leland referred to a chapel of Saint Breward near Seaton. The proper name of Milton Abbey is the Abbey Church of St. Mary, St. Samson and St. Branwalader.
The cultus of Saint Branwallader has been strong at least from the 10th century, when his name could be found in litanies. His feast was kept at Winchester, Exeter, and Cornwall. In Brittany, he has sometimes been confused with Saint Brendan and Saint Brannock (Benedictines, Farmer).
St Breward's church is the highest in Cornwall, in altitude that is, not in its services. The Old Inn just below the church has a sign that says the "smugglers may have drank at Jamaica Inn but they got their food at the Old Inn St Breward".
The village is high on Bodmin moor, and had a Granite quarrying industry from ancient times; the Norman church was built from local stone. There are nearby stone circles. St. Breward dates back to pre-Norman times when it was a series of small hamlets suspended along the western edge of Bodmin Moor. Over the centuries these hamlets have joined together to form the present village, which is the highest in Cornwall and enjoys magnificent views over the surrounding Cornish countryside.
There is also a St Breward's Well in Cornwall which is situated in a valley near a farm called "Chapel," close to Camelford. It is, or was, visited by sufferers from in flamed eyes and other complaints. As an offering, the sufferer threw in a pin, or small coin, to the saint.
by Pamela Bousfield (published in the Cornish Coracle)
St. Breward's Millennium celebration took place over ten days in July 2000. Nearly every organisation in the parish arranged an event. It began with a Service and Flower Festival in the Methodist Church, followed by exhibitions of Paintings, Crafts,Costume through the Ages, 100 year of St. Breward in Photographs and the CP Schoolchildren's Work. There was a Disco, the Church Fete, a Garden Safari, a Treasure Hunt, a Quiz Night and Raffle, a Barbecue, an Open Day at the Coppice Works and at Heli Aid, a Historic Parish Tour, the Crowning of the Carnival Queen and the Carnival Procession. .
The exhibition in the Parish Church, "St. Breward and 2000 Years of Christianity", ended with Songs of Praise, accompanied by St. Breward Silver Band, in which the Handbell Ringers played, the children performed and visitors from our sister parish in Brittany sang a Breton Hymn in praise of our mutual Patron Saint Branwalader.
The funds raised by all these events provided for four massive blocks of St. Breward granite to be set up at the entrances to the village, inscribed "St. Breward 2000".
This district appears under the name of Bruered about two hundred years after the conquest, at St. Brewuered de Hamathethi in the 12th century, and as Simon Ward as early as 1580.
The church is an interesting building with considerable remains of the original Norman nave and chancel, including three piers of Caen stone, one window (a good example), and a considerable amount of walling. The tower and most of the south aisle are of the 15th century. Dr. Cox (The Guardian, 21 Aug., 1901) thinks that there are clear traces of an original cruciform Saxon church, altered by a Norman arcade pierced through the north wall.
The font is modern, and not, as often stated, Norman.
The church was dedicated in 1278. It was restored with excessive energy in 1863 by Mr Piers St. Aubyn. Its tower has been more than once struck with lightning, being very much exposed.
Towards the end of the 12th century the church was granted to the priory of Tywardreth by Wm. Peverell, lord of the manor of Hamatethy, who, in return, was granted licence by the prior to have service three times a week in his chapel at Hamatethy. This larg manor, extending over several parishes, was long the possession of the Peverell family. In 1371 (1 Sept,) Sir High Peverell had licence for a chapel of St. Michael at Roghtorm (hodia Roughtor, pronounced Powtor). The foundations can still be traced. The stone arch of the doorway is built into the Britania Inn, near Camelford. The fine hill of Roughtor is only about 80 feet lower than Brownwilly, the highest hill in Cornwall, being 1,375 feet above sea level. The name Brownwilly is said to be Cornish, bron wolli meaning 'the highest hill.' Both hills are on the manor of Hamatethy, and within this parish.
There are some ancient crosses in the parish, for drawings of which see Langdon's 'Cornish Crosses'.
In this parish is situated Arthur's hall. There is a stone circle near the foot of Roughtor, and there are hut circles and other prehistoric remains on Garrah.. At Lower Lanke are some houses of Tudor date.
(link page here)
(Died early 6th C.)
(Latin: Branuvelladurus)
Branwaladr was apparently a son of King Conan Meriadoc of Dumnonia & Brittany. Being a son of this King's second marriage to Dareca, the sister of St. Patrick, he was brought up and educated in the latter kingdom with his nineteen saintly brothers. They mostly followed their uncle into Ireland, but Branwaladr entered a local monastery and joined St. Samson in his work in Cornwall and the Channel Islands. He founded churches at St. Breward in the former and St. Brelade in the latter. Both are alternative forms of his name, though he should not be confused with Saints Brannoc or Brendan. He eventually died at his foundation of Branscombe in Devon, where William Worcestre refers to his shrine.
Some of Branwaladr's relics were later taken back to Brittany, but they were re-acquired by King Aethelstan in the early 10th century when many Breton clerics fled from Norse invasions. The King gave these relics to the Abbey of Milton in Dorset, where they were venerated until the Reformation. They appear to have consisted of the saint's arm or his head, or possibly both.