Brannoc of Braunton

Brannoc of Braunton or Saint Brannock was a Christian saint associated with the village of Braunton in the English county of Devon. His feast is 7 January.

Saint Brannoc
Born	6th century supposedly Wales
Died	Braunton in North Devon
Venerated in	Anglican Communion Orthodox Church[1] Roman Catholicism
Major shrine	Braunton in North Devon (destroyed)
Feast	26 June or 7 January.

Life

The history of St Brannoc is confused – some sources conflate him with Saint Brynach, however Exeter Cathedral celebrates the feast of Brynach on 7 April and that of Brannoc on 7 January so it is unlikely that they are the same saint.^[2][3] In contrast, Braunton celebrates St Brannock's Day on the 26 June.

Brannock migrated from South Wales to establish a monastery at Braunton in the 6th century.^[4][5] Braunton church was dedicated to him from at least 854 and in the Middle Ages it was believed that he was buried in the church^[6] with both William of Worcester and Leland stating that he was buried there.^[7] Tradition states that he first built his church on a hill overlooking Braunton, but it collapsed. In a dream he was told to look for a sow and seven piglets for the site to build his new church. This story is commemorated in one of the stained glass windows and in a roof boss of St Brannock's Church, Braunton.^[2]

Records suggest that St Winifred's Church, Branscombe held St Brannoc's arm as a relic, though it was taken to Milton Abbey in Dorset in 933 on the orders of King Athelstan.^[8]