Saint Regnobert of Bayeux, known in Latin as Regnobertus or Ragnobertus and in later forms as Renobert, Rénobert, Rennobert, or Raimbert, was a bishop of the seventh-century Church in Normandy and is numbered the twelfth bishop of Bayeux. Tradition places his birth at Noron-la-Poterie, a village some eight kilometers southwest of Bayeux, the ancient Gallo-Roman capital of the Bajocasses and the seat of the diocese.
He is remembered as the second Apostle of the Bessin after Saint Exuperius. In the 620s he completed the work of converting the Saxons who had settled the countryside, and by his preaching and pastoral care the faith took deeper root among the people. Tradition credits him with founding four churches in Caen—Saint-Sauveur, Notre-Dame, Saint-Pierre, and Saint-Jean—though only Saint-Pierre and Saint-Jean are clearly attested as existing in the seventh century. He is also held to have founded the chapel that became the origin of the pilgrimage of Notre-Dame de la Délivrande, the oldest Marian pilgrimage in Normandy. It is possible that he built or repaired the church of Saint-Exuperius on Mont Phaunus at Bayeux, the burial place of the early bishops.
As bishop he took his place among the pastors of Gaul. Under the name Ragnobertus he was present at the Council of Clichy around 627; he is also recorded at the Council of Reims in 625 and at the Council of Malay near Sens in 657 or 658, convened by Saint Emmon of Sens. In 663 he countersigned, at the palace of Chatou near Paris, an act of Bertefrid of Amiens concerning the foundation of the monastery of Corbie. Popular memory retained the nobility of his family, the large gifts he made to the Church, the miracles worked through his intercession, and the great age he attained.
He died on 16 May, about the year 666 according to the Gallia Christiana (some notices give 627). His feast is celebrated on 24 October. In the ninth century, when Breton raids threatened Bayeux, his relics, together with those of the deacon Saint Zeno, were translated from the church of Saint-Exuperius. Hervé of Maine obtained leave from Bishop Fréculf of Lisieux and, in the absence of Bishop Baltfrid of Bayeux, carried the relics first to Norolles (where a chapel of Saint Regnobert later stood at Fauguernon), then to Saint-Victor-d'Épine. In March of the following year they were moved again to a newly built church of the Holy Saviour at the villa Suiacum (identified with sites near Notre-Dame-d'Épine or Manerbe), dedicated with three altars by the bishops of Bayeux, Lisieux, and Avranches about 847–849. A small monastic community gathered there; the Historia Translationis records miracles, and King Charles the Bald and Queen Ermentrude sought the saints' help—he for a toothache, she for an affliction of the chest—and the king granted lands to the church. About 867–869 the relics were carried into the Auxerrois, first to Saint-Vivant at Vergy and then to the church of Sainte-Eugénie at Varzy, where a silver-gilt arm reliquary in blessing and an octagonal head reliquary were later treasured; portions went also to Quingey and, under Bishop Hugh of Noyers, phalanges were reserved for the church of Saint-Renobert at Auxerre.
Thus the Church has kept the memory of a bishop who evangelized his people, built up the houses of God, and left a cult that crossed the borders of Normandy.
May Saint Regnobert obtain for us a share in his apostolic zeal, that we may labor today for the conversion of those still far from Christ.
