St Decuman was born in the 7th century in Rhoscrowther in Pembrokeshire. He felt called to evangelise the people of Somerset and arrived by boat in Watchet. He wasn't welcomed by everyone and was beheaded. However, undaunted he picked up his head, washed the blood from it in the waters of a well and put it back on his shoulders. Local people built a small church to him on the spot. Today he is commemorated in Watchet by a pebble mosaic, a holy well and a stained-glass window in the parish church, which is dedicated to him.
Stained glass window of St Decuman in his church in Watchet
Stained glass window of St Decuman in his church in Watchet
St Decuman's Church, Watchet
St Decuman's Church, Watchet
St Decuman's holy well (grid ref ST 0643 4273) is now surrounded by a tranquil and well-maintained garden. It can be accessed by walking west down the lane on the north side of the church. The well is on the right-hand side a 100 metres or so beyond the church.
Entrance to St Decuman's Holy Well
St Decuman's Holy Well
Holy well
Holy well
Inscribed stone in the holy well garden
God breathed and man became a Living Soul, Genesis Chapter 2, verse 7
St Decuman and his favourite cow on a raft on their way to Watchet
This painting is on the Watchet Harbour wall mural
St Decuman arrives in Watchet by boat from Wales accompanied by his favourite cow
St Decuman is beheaded
The sword with which St Decuman was beheaded
This pebble mosaic, which is located outside Watchet Library, commemorates the arrival of St Decuman in Watchet by boat from Wales in the late 7th century. It was created in 1996 by Maggy Howarth of Cobblestone Designs.
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