Hamish Runcet was a verger at the Church of St. Edwy's, King and Giant, in this English community [St. Fidgeta and Other Parodies, 100].
Let's see: a sluice gate is a wooden or metal plate used to control water levels and flow rates in rivers and canals. Weirs are small dams used to raise the level of a river or stream. One assumes this village is near water...or a winterbourne.
In the Catholic Church it's typical to refer to saints with an identifying phrase such as bishop and confessor or virgin and martyr. Bowen says Anglicans include Charles I, King and Martyr in their list since he lost his head in defense of the Established Church among other things. Many local saints in all Catholic countries are based on mythical rather than historic figures, but something like King and Giant is not something you would actually see on a real church. |
