Agenda item

At the Procedures Committee on the 15^th September 2020, the Leader asked that the Committee undertake a piece of research to review how the current date of the 4th June was chosen for Devon Day, the link to St Petrock's Day and also St Boniface. The Committee RESOLVED that the issue be investigated and a Report brought back to the Committee in due course.

Report of the County Solicitor relating to Devon Day, attached.

The Committee note that at the Procedures Committee on the 15^th September 2020, the Leader had asked that the Committee undertake a piece of research to review how the current date of the 4th June was chosen for Devon Day, the link to St Petroc's Day and also St Boniface. The Committee had RESOLVED that the issue be investigated and a Report brought back to the Committee in due course.

The Report of the County Solicitor highlighted that whilst the Roman Catholic Church had an elaborate and formal, canonization process, the process in the Eastern Orthodox and Anglican Catholic Churches was much less formal. However, the Church of England had no mechanism for canonising saints. Patron saints of churches had generally been chosen due to some connection of that saint to that place.

In relation to Saint Petroc and the link to Devon Day (4 June) it was noted that county days were relatively recent observances, formed to celebrate the cultural heritage of a particular county. Devon Day was linked with St Petroc; one of the three Patron Saints of Cornwall; along with St Piran (5th March) and St Michael (8th May).  The report outlined the history of St Petroc  including his links with Dumnonia, which included Kernow (Cornwall), and parts of Dewnans (Devon), Somerset and Dorset and his work in founding a number of churches and monasteries across the south-west, with several important clusters around Barnstaple and the Devon villages of Petrockstowe and Newton St Petroc. Petroc was also strongly associated with Exeter.

The idea for Devon Day began in 2014 to have an official date to celebrate Devon and promote the best of Devon. The previously constituted Devon Flag Group had suggested several significant county dates when the flag might be raised, agreed the Feast Day of Saint Petroc’s and this was the date that had been commemorated since. Since becoming an official day in 2016, Devon Day attracts a massive online following. In 2017, more than 2.4million Twitter followers saw #DevonDay and in 2018, the subject was trending on Twitter nationally for more than eight hours.

The Report then went on the highlight the work and status of St Boniface, born in Crediton around 675AD and was a leading figure in the Anglo-Saxon mission to the Germanic parts of the Frankish Empire. Boniface believed that church and state should work together and was dedicated to a peaceful co-existence. Saint Boniface’s feast day was celebrated on 5 June and a statue stood in the grounds of Mainz Cathedral. The UK National Shrine to St Boniface was at the Catholic church in Crediton as well as an aisle dedicated to him at Crediton Parish Church.

The idea of St. Boniface as a Patron Saint of Devon originated with The Boniface Link Association. The Council had previously considered a Notice of Motion and it had been agreed that the Council supported the work of the Boniface Link Association in working towards the adoption of St Boniface as the patron saint of Devon. In 2019, the Bishop of Exeter introduced a new initiative in the name of St Boniface in the form of ‘the Company of St Boniface’ which honoured people who had made a substantial contribution to the life of the church in Devon.

The Report then outlined the position in terms of the designation of a Patron Saint concluding that there was no formal system. The Diocese of Exeter advised they were proud to have many outstanding Christians representing Devon and notwithstanding enthusiasm for wanting St Boniface to be more widely recognised, there was no desire to side-line St Petroc or any of the other saints associated with Devon.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had published guidance in July 2019 on celebrating the historic counties of England which included a list of all the county days. The guidance highlighted that local approaches must be locally led.

The Council recognised the importance of celebrating the history and traditions of the County through Devon Day and the mechanism by which St Boniface was honoured in the church calendar on 5th June. The Council also supported the work of the Boniface Link Association but recognised the popularity and strong branding of the 4 June as Devon Day, as evidenced on social media.

Members discussed the benefits of Devon Day in celebrating the County of Devon and any opportunities for promotion and helping economic recovery in the County that could be afforded by supporting the ‘Made in Devon’ campaign alongside Devon Day.

It was MOVED by Councillor Way and SECONDED by Councillor Connett that the recommendation in the Report (shown in black) be moved and amended by the addition of the words shown in in red.

‘that the Committee notes the importance and mechanism by which St Boniface is honoured in the national church calendar on 5th June and the Council’s ongoing support for the Boniface Link Association in working towards the adoption of St Boniface as the patron saint of Devon,

The amendment was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

It was then MOVED by Councillor Connett and SECONDED by Councillor Hannaford that the Motion be amended by the addition of (a) in red below;

(a) that the County Council consider celebrating and utilising Devon Day as a ‘Made in Devon Day for the 2021 year.

The amendment was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

It was therefore RESOLVED that;

(a) the County Council consider celebrating and utilising Devon Day as a ‘Made in Devon Day for the 2021 year; and

(b) the Committee note the importance and mechanism by which St Boniface is honoured in the national church calendar on 5th June and the Council’s ongoing support for the Boniface Link Association in working towards the adoption of St Boniface as the patron saint of Devon.