St George of England, Brychan Brycheiniog's family and that Heavenly Stained Glass

Brychan, with all his children in his lap! and the St George Window in the West Wall showing incidents from his life and Martyrdom.In the final picture there are many such panels, all equally wonderful depicting the laity praying for the intercession of the saints. It seems to the left of the present altar, there may have been a Grave sepulchre, where the crucifix may have been kept during the Holy Week for the Tenebrae services.The Place seems to be in a traditional place for it.





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BRYCHAN BRYCHEINIOG

The King of Brecon, one of the holiest 3 families in Wales, decended , according to Welsh annals from the family of Joseph of Arimathea and the family members of the Virgin Mary, who had been granted land at Garthmadrun (now Talgarth) according to Welsh sources.Joseph was a tin merchant and had accompanied the Empoeror Vespasian on his many trips to Britannia. They returned, sent by St Peter, travelling to Gaul with St Philip, who sent them on to Britannia. There was considerable antipathy to the families of anyone connected with Jesus at this time, and so it is likely that they came with Joseph. Interestingly, whilst the holy men desiring hermitage had gone to land given by Archiviragus, brother of Caractacus and King of the Demetiae, known as Ynys Witrin (The Island of Glass) or Glastonbury. Joseph's extended family lived at Talgarth and married into the local royal family(of Irish extraction!), but in the early years the genealogy shows many Jewish names.Parishaw in the Black Mountains for example is from Pater Ishow (Issui in Welsh) Or Father Esau, believed to be from that family.Perhaps Issey, daughter of Brychan was also from the female form of the name, and commemorated at nearby St Issey on the way to Padstow.

Brychan was the father of numerous holy children, although it is felt these may have been grandchildren as well, Amongst these children are many of the Cornish and Welsh Saints. We have seen how St Paul inspired chastity in women and how many Christian women, for the first time saw that they need not marry and could not be forced to-many undergoing hideous tortures for the faith, like St Thekla for example, Paul’s disciple, who was tortured for not marrying a man chosen by her parents.

Many followed her example . St Winifred of Wales is one such example as are the saints all over the church, St Lucy,St Perpetua. Our own St Tecla of Gwent on her tiny island near what is now the old Severn Bridge was another.
Unusual in Brychan’s court, was that he encouraged his children to set up llans all over the district. Under his advisor St Brynach, a priest who had arrived via Ireland from the Holy Land, his children were carefully brought up as Christians.

He had numerous children (many of whom we have already heard of here on this site) In the true manner of Old British saints, however ,they wandered around from place to place (white martyrdom-to where God would lead them) until they found their ‘green martyrdom’sanctified the area of their ‘llan’ and settled there.

Brychan’s children in Cornwall included

ADWEN(Advent) CLETHER,KEW,OUDICEUS(Euddogwy, her brother and nephew of Teilo) ENDELIENTA ,
(St Endellion)ISSEY (St Issey)KERIA (Egloskerry)CEYNA (St Keyne) MABENA, (St Mabyn) MINVER (St Minver)MORWENNA,TEATH, and of course some sons, FINBAR and OUDICEUS.Others we have heard of in Wales are Tydfil, Tegwedd and St Gwladys in Newport. It is wonderful to see this stained glass window paying tribute to this holy King.I have written about Brychan before.

Donors of the Windows

The different windows were donations from local families . Borlase, Martyn, Motton, Callaway and Tubbe families.

Unique Mediaeval St George Window

Twelve scenes in the west window of the north aisle describe the life of St. George. They depict the Eastern Church’s recorded martyrdom accounts as a Christian Roman soldier born in Palestine this window is of unique interest as incidents are not found elsewhere nowadays. St George was always shown holding the flag of the Paschal Sacrifice , the red blood on the pure white flag, representing the Lamb of God. In grasping this flag, he was himself taking the Martyrdom for the sake of Christ.The dragon he fought was probably a metaphor for the enemies of Christ. The flag accepted by the Crusaders, who spread a legend of his fighting a dragon as many of then had to as so many of whom died in droves trying to protect the Christian pilgrims to the Holy Places. St George was their inspiration
The Paschal Flag became the English Flag.

It is worth pointing out that St Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall, but had long been administered from England since Norman times and later Wales too became annexed to England and the Welsh language to be 'extirped'

George was born to a Christian noble family during the late third century around AD 275 and AD 285, in Lydia Palestine. His father Geronzio was a Roman army official from Cappodocia and his mother from Palestine. They were both Christians and from noble families of Anici (can not be defeated), so by this the child was raised with Christian beliefs. They decided to call him George meaning "worker of the land".
George offered himself as a soldier to Diocletian, who accepted him as Geronzio had been one of his finest soldiers and by his late 20s, George was a Tribune and stationed at Nicomaedia.

In the year AD 302, Diocletian (influenced by Galerius) issued an edict that every Christian in the army should be arrested and every soldier offer sacrifice to the Roman gods.
George objected and with the courage of his Faith approached the Emperor and tore up the edict. Diocletian was upset, not wanting lose his best Tribune and son of his best official, Geronzio. George loudly renounced the Emperor's edict, and in front his fellow soldiers and Tribunes he claimed himself to be a Christian and declared his worship of Jesus Christ. Diocletian tried to make George change his mind, even offering gifts of land, money and slaves if he made the sacrifice to the Pagan gods. The Emperor made many offers, but George would not accept.
Having made this edict, Diocletian was left with no choice but to have the saint executed for his refusal. Before the execution George gave his wealth to the poor and prepared himself. After many torture sessions,(which included being lacerated on a wheel of swords, he was miraculously resuscitated three times, George was indeed, as shown in the window of St Neot, executed by decapitation before Nicomedia's city wall, on April 23, 303AD, the same year as St Julius and St Aaron)of Caerleon) and St Alban (of Verulamium)died.
. A witness of his suffering convinced Empress Alexandra and Athanasius, a pagan priest, to become Christians as well, and so they joined George in martyrdom. His body was returned to Lydda for burial, where Christians soon came to honour him as a martyr there in Palestine.So not a legend , but a real Martyr and Protector of England.

Back to the St Neot Windows

The guide to the church building states
‘The finest and least restored window, the Creation Window, is at the east end of the south aisle and is full of delightful things representing the Creation (including the newly created bird flying off the tip of His finger), the Fall, Cain and Abel and lastly Noah politely doffing his cap to God as he receives his instructions, while the first window in the south aisle represents the story of the Flood and Noah’

Underneath are the laity imploring ‘Ora Pro nobis’ from kneeling figures dressed in 15th century or so costumes. Only two parish churches in Britain have complete sets of stained glass designed for them –one at Fair ford in Goucester and here at St Neots.The earliest three windows are from 1480 and the last around 1539, which must have been at the date of the taking of church property to form the new ‘Church of England’ by Henry VIII.
It appears the remoteness of the church spared it from the army of Oliver Cromwell who usually destroyed stained glass if they could.

The New Glazing

In 2004, Richard Grylls, the present patron, engaged Arthur Bradley to replace the frosted window at the west end of the church, which obscured the belfry, with a new etched glass screen. The new window contains etchings of a dove, mirroring the dove over the baptismal font, together with fruits of the vine, and wheat from the fields, as well as a porcupine – a symbol from the Grylls family crest, and denoting both plenty and realisation of hopes. A beautiful addition to a fabulous Church.

In the Churchyard

Here in the churchyard was a lantern cross which appears to have had the figure of St Neot on one of the panels and possibly the Blessed Virgin, though truth to tell it shows more signs of weathering than the one I saw at Patrishaw in Gwent, in a lot better state of repair. Nevertheless this cross had been put up again, traditionally a place where visiting preachers or Newsgivers would stand whike addressing the local population.

The Mills as the source of local industry

Travelling along we went past a number of Mills which formed the earliest occupations of the local people-The Trago Mills retail outlet is a development of one of those mills, probably a money spinner in Mediaeval times!


Autumn Colours

The autumn colours were vibrant and startling and trees and woodland inviting in the summy monets but menacing in the dark gloomy moments. St Neots was situated in the area of Warleggan which was evocative of the Poldark TV series.

Return

As we returned to Tintagel, we passed Dozmary Pool, lying undramaticall in the Moor. This was where the legend of the 'arm in white samite'appeared to the earlier 'King Arthur' in Arthurian Legend. I ave written about Arthrwys, the real 'Dux Bellorum' before, but here is where local tradition places the legend. We also passed by the temple Church, home of the Templars until their cruel suppression.Was ever a more unjust punishment, by evil Philip the Fair of France? This Church is dedicated to St Catherine a popular Mediaeval saint, who died broken on a wheel, the rather sick nameing of a corresponing firework 'The Catherine Wheel' on bonfire night.

This A30 is also the site of 'Jamaica Inn', unfortunately nowhere near the sea, but there was also the Daphne du Maurier exhibition and a restaurant and inn with standard food.Frenchman's Creek is not far way and Cornwall was also the Cornish setting for the novel 'Rebecca'.

All in all, a most interesting day.

St Neot and the Wandering Relics Bodmin Moor, Part I

Here you can see some pictures of this beautiful and unique Church. The space for the stoup still remains , where the Faithful crossed themselves with Holy Water, blessed at Easter with the Paschal Candle and would remind them of their own Baptism.
The lantern cross must have been beautiful and on the two faces St Neot and the what may be a Bishop, can be just about seen. The heavy granite building material of the Church can be seen here and the present Vicar has imaginatively had an beautifully engraved window put in the wall between the tower and nave, so that more light can come in and so that we can more easily see the beautiful stained glass, which has to be seen to be believed!

St Neots is on the main road between Bodmin and Liskeard.


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On Monday, we travelled down to Bodmin Moor in bad weather and strong wind, although there were occasional bursts of sunshine. We travelled past interesting small houses, many with carved pumpkins in the front gardens and whether they were Jack o’er lanterns or only for display I did not know.

The road turned off afer Bodmin into the Moor and eventually we came to St Neot, which I was eager to see because of the stained glass window of Brychan Brycheiniog. I walked up to this church, which was amazing ly big and ornate and had three aisles and a North Side Chapel and South aisle chapel, which should have been the Lady Chapel, but had instead another altar there and with a reredos with an image of Jesus saving souls at the Revelation.
However,in front of this chapel was a small and exquisite wooden carving of the Virgin which I have posted above.

Inside the Church

The central chapel and south aisle of the church were the original building from 1425 when the Church seems to have been built into a manorial church, and an earlier date can be given for the tower. It seems this is another case of Norman reorganisation of the Saxon or old British Church which once stood here, The Normans would have probably rebuilt the church to be staffed by the Benedictines of the priory at Bodmin and the traditional place of accommodation would be in the upper storey of the porch (built 1425) although there was an incumbent priest from 1266. It seems that many religious brothers would spend a number of years out in the parish, returning to the monastery for periods. The local lord of the manor would often endow the church to show his wealth and assure his place in heaven. The best view of the Church is coming up the hill. There is a smallish car park and disabled access and the church well maintained and greatly loved.

The Lost Chapel

On the north side of the church the seventh arch at the east end is clearly older than the others and lower, and was probably the entrance to a chapel. A squint pierces the wall between the north aisle and the sanctuary . This was probably to allow the occupants of the Chapel to see what went on at the Mass in the Sanctuary.

Saint Gueryr (Aneitus)-the first Founder

However we should really start at the beginning. The original Old British founder of this Llan was Saint Gueryr.remember it would have been a mud and wattles church, and little remains today. It is Asser, the Welsh monk, who in his account of King Alfred the Great tells of the king visiting this shrine and adds that St Neot lies there too.

Neot was a holy and good man who dd the work of the Lord and his church. He was said to have stood upright , of small stature, up to his neck in water reciting all 150 psalms! He was said to have died in 877 approximately and his relics were put in the north wall of the chancel.

Neot’s name (Aneitus)

It has been suggested that the reference to Neot was added later, though it does not mean it was not a fact. There is some discussion about Neot. He was probably a Cornish style saint whose name may also have been found in nearby Menheniot-the Sanctuary of Neot, though the dedication here is to a Saint Lalluwy which name later became Ladislas
St Gueryr may have been an earlier saint altogether. It is ,however, not unusual for the Cornish and Welsh saints to have a Latin name as well, a Church name (eg Dyfrig being known as Dubricius) Latin was and is the language of the whole Church and so it is not unusual.

A relative of King Alfred of Wessex?

There is also a school of thought which makes Neot a relative of King Alfred and it was in a Life of this Neot that the story was told about Alfred burning the cakes! The dates would tie in with this most Christian of kings.

The relics of St Neot travel

He was said to have become a monk of Glastonbury Abbey, who, attached to Bodmin Priory, the local house, lived in what was a hermitage According to this account, some time after his death, the saint appeared to the guardian of the shrine, whom he bade carry his relics elsewhere ; eventually they came to rest in a monastery at what came to be St Neots, originally in Huntingdon near Cambridge.

Another account says the relics were stolen but
the removal of the bones of the saint, in whole, or in part from one place to another , sometimes for safety sometimes at a call to establish a new centre of devotion was a usual enough practice. Alfred had, in any case prayed at the Shrine of Saint Gueryr and was healed of a sickness.

Neot also seems to have been some petty king, who wanted a religious life and abdicated so that his brother was crowned . He became a monk at Glastonbury Abbey and saves a doe from a hunter.


The Legend of the 3 Fish

He then found three fish in a well and an angel tells him he may eat one every day , leave 2 and there will be three the next day. Neot orders a fish from his servant Barius who takes two fish from the well, boils one and fries the other . Barius brings the two fish to Neot, who sends him back to throw the two fish back down the well.

Cattle are replaced with stags

Cattle are stolen from Neot’s Community. After prayer stags take their place , then the Robbers return the stolen acattle .

Neot receives the Pope’s Blessing in Rome

Finally Neot receives the Pope’s blessing in Rome. Unusual to see His Holiness in 15th century stained glass in what is now an Anglican Church. Neot’s fest day is July 31st.
All the stories are placed in panels in an elaborate window inside the church. I was amazed when I saw the display of mediaeval glass. With scenes from the Bible and traditional local saints the stories are all told in magnificent colour.

St Neot’s Church Wonderful Stained Glass

The glass dates from the early sixteenth century. Father Robert Tubbe, Priest from 1508 to 1544, was possibly the man behind the present designs. These were restored by John Hedgeland in 1826-28. During this restoration Hedgeland changed parts of windows, and shifted them around, so that it is now impossible to know what they were originally like. The guide to the church tells us, that in twelve of the windows, half of the glass is original.

Pictures in glass of Biblical and British Saints

The Creation window is very fine. All the Saints-Andrew Patrick and many old British saints, including many to Our Blessed Lady, imploring her intercession are found in the church.

Part Two Tomorrow