St Carantoc – The Patron Saint Of The Cornish Pasty?

Saint Carantoc was a confessor and abbot of the early 6th century who lived in Wales, Ireland and Cornwall. The Cornish village of Crantock, near Newquay, takes its name from St Carantoc, as does the village church, St Carantoc’s, which has a series of stained glass windows telling the story of his life.

Born in Ceredigion, west Wales, Carantoc was either a son of Ceredig or his son, Corun, King of Ceredigion. To escape being elected king, he fled. Legend has it that his floating altar arrived on the bank of the River Gannel. Coming ashore, he intended settling at the water's edge, but the shavings he produced for lighting a fire were carried away by a dove to the site of the present church. Carantoc saw this as the guiding of the Holy Spirit and consequently settled there and established the church.

In the most famous incident of Carantoc's life, the saint, having returned to Wales, crossed the Bristol Channel, looking for his portable altar. He arrived on the banks of the River Willett and came into conflict with both King Cado of Dumnonia and King Arthur at Dunster in Somerset. Carantoc was eventually obliged to defeat a ferocious dragon in order to retrieve his altar and, in return, was given land at nearby Carhampton, Somerset, to found a monastery.
Over the ages, the arrival of St Carantoc has been celebrated on 16th May. In medieval times, seven chapels existed and churches from all around brought their relics for masses said on the feast day.

However, some celebrations have been a little more unrestrained. The folk song Crantock Games – a great favourite of singer Benjamin Luxon – tells how 20-year-old William Coombs of St Agnes was shot by one of his friends on 16th May 1721 while drinking in the Ship Inn (now Meadow Bank Farm) and was buried the next day in Crantock Churchyard, apparently without an inquest.

Today, St Crantock’s Day is celebrated with a week of local events including a mass on the feast day itself and a fancy dress parade through the village led by a band.