Friends of St Decuman
"The Friends of St Decuman are a community group of volunteers who are all passionate about advancing the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the life, culture, heritage, and work of the Welsh Saint, St Decuman".
St Decuman was born in Rhoscrowther near the coast in rural southwest Pembrokeshire. The historic name for Rhoscrowther is Llandegman and it is only in this area of Pembrokeshire that St Decuman is known as St Degman. Throughout history there have been many names for Rhoscrowther, such as Roscrouthur, Rhosgylyddwr, Roscryther and Rhoscrowdder. Our Saint also has many names like Degeman, Deguman, Decumanus and Degaman.
St Decuman was born to wealthy, noble parents but he decided to forgo his privileged life, leave his birthplace in Pembrokeshire and travel to Dunster and then to Watchet in Somerset where there is a church today that bears his name. The story says that he crossed the Bristol Channel using his cloak as a raft and with a cow as his only companion. It is thought that the cloak raft may actually have been a traditional Welsh coracle. He lived a life of service to the people of Somerset, living off the milk from his cow, until an unfortunate incident with a Pagan. This incident with the “truculent fellow” who was “more venomous than an asp” led to Decuman having his head cut off with a spade. Miraculously, Decuman picked up his severed head, washed it in fresh spring water and re-attached it and this divine act led to the Pagan assailant becoming a convert to Christianity. There is a Holy Well dedicated to St Decuman in Watchet which is still used today for baptisms and there is also a Holy well called St Degman's well close to the site of St Decuman’s Church in Rhoscrowther.
There are over 460,000 listed buildings in the UK and only 2.5% of these achieve the highest level of grading, Grade I, such as famous landmarks like Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and Cardiff Castle. St Decuman has not just one but two churches (Rhoscrowther and Watchet), dedicated to him which have the honour of being Grade I listed. Decuman is also linked to the churches in Pwllcrochan near Rhoscrowther and Llanfihangel Cwm Du in Brecknockshire. It is also thought that his original church in Watchet was on the site of nearby King Alfred's Daws Castle. There are also Churches dedicated to St Decuman at Killag, Killiane and Balliconnick in County Wexford, Ireland. These churches are
Helston and in other areas of Cornwall, where he is associated with another Pembrokeshire Saint, St Petrox. St Decuman is also commemorated at Muchelney Abbey and at Wells Cathedral in Somerset where he is honoured with a statue on the historic and impressive West Front Wall of the iconic, medieval gothic Cathedral. Decuman is one of only two Saints to have the privilege of being portrayed on the Cathedral's West Front Wall which also shows the statues of Jesus and the twelve apostles. Decuman's statue depicts him with both hands held up to his head, representing the iconic image of him reattaching his own head after it was severed.
no longer used and are in various states of deterioration however they are still visited and the graves are still attended to. Decuman is also venerated at Degibna near
Whilst we know that St Decuman lived sometime between 500 - 700AD, there is still much mystery surrounding his life. There are a large number of medieval, Latin texts documenting the lives of Welsh Saints which are yet to be translated, including those which tell about the life of St Decuman, so there is still much for us to discover, learn and understand about Decuman and his history. In more modern times since the 1890s, St Decuman has featured in life in various ways. In addition to his churches being the subject of several news articles and programmes, he also features in a commemorative mosaic floor depicting his life, has his very own hymn, has a song telling his life story on an album by an award-winning singer and has even been part of a play in the West End of London. St Decuman is also linked to Samuel Coleridge's famous poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner which was written in the 1790s. Coleridge gained his inspiration for this classic work when he and fellow poet William Wordsworth were visiting St Decuman's Church in Watchet.
In the Christian Calendar St Decuman's feast day is more commonly celebrated on the 27th of August, however in some areas, particularly in areas of Pembrokeshire, the 27th of February is celebrated as St Degman's feast day. Currently Rhoscrowther Church has recognised both the 27th of February and the 27th of August as St Decuman's Feast Day and has celebrated both. On the 27th of August members of the Friends of St Decuman and members of the local community often gather in St Decuman's in Rhoscrowther to celebrate his feast day. A candle is lit and prayers are said in the church followed by a celebratory 'picnic feast' in the sunshine... weather permitting!
We will never really know what St Decuman looked like but he has been portrayed several times. In addition to the mosaic floor and the statue of him at Wells Cathedral mentioned above, there is also a statue of him in St Decuman's church in Rhoscrowther and one of him on the tower of St Decuman's church in Watchet, which is seen here (left).
