St Nectan was a royal who lived as a hermit in dense forest at Stoke, Hartland, north Devon. He was killed by robbers who cut off his head. His holy well marks the place of his cell at Hartland. His shrine was in the church there. The monks of Hartland Abbey walked several times a day to his shrine for worship and prayer.
St Nectan also spent time as a hermit in St Nectan’s Glen at Trethevy near Tintagel. The place is also called St Nectan’s Kieve, the word kieve meaning ‘bowl’ in Cornish. High up in the glen a very secluded 60 foot waterfall has over centuries carved for itself several bowls out of the rock. It has then broken through the side of each in turn to start yet another bowl. There are also ’clouties left on trees
Troparion in Tone 4
O holy Father Nectan you followed the bidding of the Lord
and left your father and mother to embrace the hermit’s life.
Faithful follower of Christ unto death
pray that He may save our souls.
