h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The following link is to a site that suggests that there were two distinct Celtic churches in Devon. One is a Brythonic (British) church, based in Exeter and with influence in East Devon, and the second a Goidelic (Gaelic) church which held sway in the rest of Devon and in Cornwall.

The site does not suggest that the population of Devon was itself. Gaelic, but rather focusses on the saints etc...

http://tonymusings.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/christianity-in-devon-before-ad-909_18.html

This is only a blog, but is apparently based on the work of Chanter published over a century ago.

The church was obviously a very powerful force in those days, and understanding how it operated might be relevant to how the people became integrated into England.

There are a couple of interesting asides. One is the assertion that the origins of the name Ashburton are celtic - Esse briton. I have done some research and it does seem that it was Essebretone in the Domesday book.

......and here is a list of Celtic church dedications in Devon according to this website (apparently sourced from Chanter)

http://tonymusings.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/christianity-in-devon-before-ad-909_11.html

"Let me, then, give a list of the Celtic dedications that exist or did exist in former times in Devon, for they will show us the footsteps of the Celtic missionaries in our county ; the ones that still remain, or of which we have record, are probably only a part and perhaps a small part of those that once existed. With the strengthening of the Saxon factor in Devon there must have been a tendency to displace the unknown founder by a more fashionable dedication, or to alter it into something that sounded much alike but more familiar. Thus, many a St. Petrock was changed to a St. Peter under Saxon and Norman influence ; the wonder is not that there are so few, but that there are so many. 'The following list may doubtless be capable of alteration by erasure and addition. I have rejected some names given by others. For instance, All Hallows, Exeter, given as Celtic by Kerslake, is undoubtedly Saxon ; probably also St. Mary Arches, Exeter ; but Zeal Monachorum, now St. Peter, was in all probability originally St. Petrock. And with this preface I make, I believe, the first offer of a complete list of Devonshire Celtic dedications, including those that show Celtic influence. The authorities are chiefly Oliver, Brooking Rowe, Bishops' Registers, Wills, Miss Arnold Foster, and Thesaurus Ecc. Prov, 1782.

St. Alban, Beaworthy, Parish Church
St. Brannock, Braunton
St. Brandon, Brendon, Parish Church,
St. Brandon, Stokenham, Chapel
St. Budoc, St. Budeaux, Parish Church,
St. Bridget, Bridestowe, Parish Church,
St. Bridget, Bridgerule, Parish Church,
St. Bridget, Swymbridge, Chapel
St. Bridget, Virginstow, Parish Church,
St. Bridget, Wembworthy, Chapel
St. Constantine, Dunsford, Chapel
St. Constantine and St. Teilo, Milton Abbot, Parish Church,
St. Cuby, Exeter (Cowick), Chapel
St. Cuby, Widworthy, Parish Church,
St. Cyriaeus and St. Julitta, or St.Curig, Newton St. Cyres, Parish Church
St. Cyriaeus (and St Nicholas), South Pool, Parish Church
St. David, Ashprington, Parish Church
St. David, Ashprington, Chapel
St. David, Awliscombe (Dotton), Chapel
St. David, Culm Davy, Parish Church
St. David, Exeter, Parish Church
St. David, Thelbridge, Parish Church
St. Germanus, Germansweek, Parish Church
St. Helen (Elen ?), Abbotsham, Parish Church
St. Helen (Elen ?), Lundy, Parish Church
St. Heligan, Hartland, Chapel
St. Hergyth, Chittlehampton, Parish Church
St. Hergyth, Swymbridge (Stowford), Chapel
St. Julian, Maker, Parish Church
St. Kierrian, Exeter, Parish Church
St. Marina (=Morwenna), Mariansleigh, Parish Church
St. Melor, Thorncombe, Chapel
St. Nectan, Ashcombe, , Parish Church
St. Nectan, Hartland, Parish Church
St. Nectan, Hartland, Abbey
St. Nectan, Welcombe, Parish Church (from 1508)
St. Nonn, Bradstone
St. Patemus, North Petherwin, Parish Church
St. Pol de Leon (or Pawl Hen), Churchstow, Parish Church
St. Pol de Leon (or Pawl Hen), Exeter, Parish Church
St. Pol de Leon (or Pawl Hen), Filleigh, Parish Church
St. Pol de Leon (or Pawl Hen), Landkey, Parish Church
St. Pol de Leon (or Pawl Hen), Staverton, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Anstey West
St. Petrock, Bampton (Petton), Chapel
St. Petrock, Brent, South, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Buckfastleigh, Abbey (anciently)
St. Petrock, Charles. Chapel
St. Petrock, Clannaborough, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Dartmouth, Chapel
St. Petrock, Dunkeswell, Abbey (anciently)
St. Petrock, Exeter, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Exeter (Cathedral) Chapel
St. Petrock, Harford, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Hollacombe, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Kenton, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Leigh, West, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Lydford, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Newton, St. Petrock, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Parracombe, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Petrockstow, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Tor Mohun, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Totnes, Parish Church
St. Petrock, Zeal Monachorum, Parish Church
St. Rumon, Rumonsleigh, Parish Church
St. Rumon, Lynton, Chapel
St. Rumon, Tavistock, Abbey
St. Sidwell, Exeter, Parish Church
St. Teilo, Ide, Parish Church
St. Teilo, Ideford, Parish Church
St. Teilo, Iddesleigh, Parish Church
St. Teilo and St. Constantine, Milton Abbot, Parish Church
St. Twinnel, Portlemouth, Parish Church
St. Wenn, Hartland, Chapel

To these I ought to add St. Brendon, at Brendon, and St. Beuno's cell, at Culbone, which is Cyl-Beuno, or St. Beuno's cell. This gives a total of fifty-six parish churches and twenty religious houses and chapels ; and to these should be added a certain proportion of the dedications to St. Peter, as being probably originally to St. Petrock. Also a proportion of those to St. Michael. If we take ten per cent of these it will add seven more. Again, in Devon there are four churches and one chapel dedicated to St. Pancras. Miss Arnold Forster considers these are all to St. Pancras of Taormina and of Celtic origin. I would suggest some connection between St. Pancras at Rousdon near the birthplace of St. Branwallader, and St. Pancras at Exeter, which is considered a Celtic foundation by Mr. Kerslake ; this will bring up the number of parish churches now existing of Celtic origin to sixty-seven"

Quite a few then!

Notably, there are twice as many church dedications to St. Petrock in Devon as there are in Cornwall.

Another interesting source of information concerning the Celtic Saints of Devon is 'Lives of the Saints: Cornwall and Devon', by Nicholas Roscarrock (1548-1634).

In response to Plymouth Exile's comments...

The common sources of the "Devon has twice as many dedications as Cornwall" usually say the Devon total is around seventeen.

The list above totals twenty one - with a suggestion that this could easily have been more.

The article more generally gives more detail of St Petrock's extensive time in Devon. This is sometimes glossed over by certain websites from our western neighbours who suggest he simply "passed through" Devon.