When a delirious Irishman arrives in a small boat in a Cornish harbour, baker Miranda Kneebone takes him in, in a wry comedy about faith, love and redemption, inspired by the story of a saint.

Declan Credan arrives in a Cornish harbour in a small boat at dawn. He is delirious and covered in limpets. Miranda, who is always up before anyone else, takes him in. Her marriage to bigamist Eddy Harvey is over.

Touching Declan she feels a strange surging heat. He has an uncanny amount of knowledge about the people in the village and there are rumours that he is in touch with the dead.

Soon, the sick, gullible and desperate are queuing at Miranda's door. They want healing from Declan or, at the very least, a few wise words. Others remain sceptical.

But Declan has a terrible secret and the more he recovers physically, the worse he feels. Like St Credan before him, Declan has crossed the Irish Sea in a small boat, believing he has killed his father. Finding himself hailed as a wise man and healer, Declan feels more and more guilty ... until, at last, he has a chance to atone for his sins.