St Brannock's Church
| St Brannock's Church | |
|---|---|
St Brannock's Church, Braunton
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| 51°06′47″N 4°09′35″W / 51.1130°N 4.1597°WCoordinates: 51°06′47″N 4°09′35″W / 51.1130°N 4.1597°W | |
| Location | Braunton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | http://www.brauntonchurch.org |
| History | |
| Founded | c.550 AD (origins) |
| Founder(s) | St Brannock |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Unknown |
| Style | Early English |
| Years built | Thirteenth Century |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Exeter |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | The Revd Anne Thorne |
St Brannock's Church, Braunton, is a medieval Church of England church in Braunton, Devon, England. According to legend it was founded by Saint Brannock, a 6th-century Christian saint. It became a Grade I listed building on 25 February 1965.
The present church dates from the thirteenth century and stands on the foundations of its Saxon predecessor, though Christian worship on the site may date back to as early as the 6th century.St Brannock was an early Christian saint who is believed to have migrated from South Wales to establish a monastery at Braunton in the 6th century. Sir John Betjeman states that St Brannoc was "almost certainly" buried beneath the high altar.
Local tradition suggests that St Brannock originally built his church on a hill overlooking Braunton, but that the church collapsed. Following this setback, in a dream, the Saint was told to look for "a sow and piglets", and that this would be the site to build his new church. This story is commemorated in one of the stained glass windows and also in a roof boss of the church, which features a sow feeding her litter.
The church was seriously damaged as a result of an arson attack in July 2003. The fire completely destroyed the gallery housing the organ pipes, which dated to the 16th century, as well as damaging pews and an antique Bible. As a result of this, services were temporarily moved to nearby Brannock Rooms while restoration work went ahead. Following the attack, posters were placed around Braunton, threatening the perpetrators with revenge. At a trial in December, three pre-teen boys were found guilty of starting the fire and given 12-month supervision orders.
Nikolaus Pevsner described the church as "one of the most interesting, and also one of the most puzzling in North Devon", mentioning its massive, apparently Norman, south tower; its lead-covered broach spire, similar to that at St Peter and St Paul at Barnstaple; and the nave which despite being 34 ft wide, has no aisles.
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