::: congresbury – the legend of st congar

congresbury’s christian origins lie in a period with little written history, but probably began with the village’s namesake, st. congar

it is possible that congar, also known as docco, lived in the late fifth century and was the first british saint

it seems that congar was a celtic missionary

he built a church and, with others, preached and ministered to the population in the area around today’s congresbury

he is credited with miraculously creating arable land from congresbury’s moors and with causing his walking stick to grow into a yew tree to provide shade in the churchyard

when king Ine of wessex (688-720 ad) heard of this he bestowed on st congar, although long since dead, land around congresbury