I stand corrected, Fiolar. Sexton is the word I meant to use. My wife also corrects me and mentions the oak motifs were in the mosaics on the floor of the church. The incorporation of pagan elements into the church in Ireland was the exactly point I was trying to make.
The issue of martyrdom is brings up an illustration. The acts of monks travelling around the world in little leather bottom boats as Colmcille and Breandan has been traced to a pre-christian custom of putting bound criminals in boats an releasing them to the will of the gods on the open sea.

Brían