Patron Saint
The name St. Breward comes from the Latinised form, St. Brueredus, of its 6th century patron saint, Branwalader (Raven Lord), son of a Cornish king, Kenen. Other places dedicated to him include St. Brelade in Jersey, Loc Brevalaire in Brittany and a now demolished chapel in St. Breock, Cornwall. An ancient Celtic Cross in the churchyard dates from this pre-Norman period.
Early origins
The church, built in the Norman period and rebuilt in the 15th century, may be on the site of a Saxon church, which was built in turn on the site of a Celtic oratory.
The Cat
Masons working on ecclesiastical buildings would often incorporate gargoyles of a whimsical nature eg the gargoyle at Ely Cathedral depicting someone picking his nose! St. Breward can’t compete with that, but we do have a cat – not of the domesticated variety but one that is less likely to catch birds. Can you spot him/her? P.S. We are reliably informed it is a cat! Could it be an early representation of the Beast of Bodmin Moor?