List of Welsh saints explained

This list of Welsh saints includes Christian saints with Welsh connections, either because they were of Welsh origin and ethnicity or because they travelled to Wales from their own homeland and became noted in their hagiography for their work there.

The pagan Celts of Britain had already been extensively Christianized during the Roman period: although only four victims of Diocletian's persecution are now known (Saints Alban, "Amphibalus", and Julius and Aaron), Britons met the pagan Saxon invaders largely as Christians prior to being driven back to Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany. The family of Vortigern, which continued to hold Powys in the early medieval period, produced numerous saints. Although they largely refrained from missionizing among the Germans, Welsh refugees and missionaries were responsible for the Christianization of Ireland[1] and Brittany.[2]

The title of "saint" was used quite broadly in the Celtic churches. Extreme cases are Irish accounts of Gerald of Mayo's presiding over 3300 "saints" and Welsh claims that Bardsey held the remains of . More often, the title was given to the founder of any ecclesiastical settlement, which would thenceforth be known as their llan. Such communities were organized on tribal models: founding saints were almost invariably lesser members of local dynasties and their successors chosen from among their kin. The golden age of such establishments was the 6th century, when the "Three Saintly Families of Wales" - those of the invading Irish Brychan and Northerners Cunedda and Caw - displaced many of the local Silurian rulers in favor of their families and clans.[3] By some estimates,[4] these traditions produced over 800 pre-congregational saints venerated locally in Wales, but invasions by Saxons, Irishmen, Vikings, Normans, and others destroyed many ecclesiastical records. Similarly, the distance from Rome, suspicion of Celtic Christianity, and the relative disconnect of the local sees from Rome has left only two Welsh saints in the General Roman Calendar: Saints David (Dewi) and Winifred (Gwenffrewi).

List of saints

Name<--Kindly restrict to names common in Welsh, English, or Latin--><--Kindly restrict to the relevant century for pre-Modern saints.-->Shrine or
Associated Church<
--Kindly restrict to significant churches or cultic centers.-->Saint's Day
(Gŵyl Mabsant)
Royal originsNotes
Aaron of AlethCézembre (Brittany) ([5]) -
Caerleon ([6])
20 June ([7] [8])
-
Adwen
or Adwenna
Advent (Cornwall)Daughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
Aeddan Foeddog
or Aidan
or Maedoc
Ferns (Ireland)
Enniscorthy (Ireland)
([9])Son of Saint Aneurin, son of Caw
Aelhaiarn
or Aelhaearn
Guilsfield
Llanaelhaearn
Descendant of Vortigern, king of Britain
AerdeyrnLlanelldeyrnDescendant of Vortigern, king of Britain
Aelrhiw
Afan of Builth
or Afan Buellt
Llanafan Fawr
Llanfechan
Llanafan
17 or Great-grandson of Cunedda Wledig, king of Gwynedd
AmphibalusSt Albans[10] [11] Priest; converted Saint Alban
Born in Isca (Caerleon)
AneChild of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Saint Armel
or Arthfael
or Armagilus
Plouharnel (Morbihan, Brittany)
Saint-Armel (Morbihan, Brittany), Plouarzel, (Finistère, Brittany).
Son of Hoel, king of Brittany
AsaphSt Asaph ([12])
5 May[13]
Bishop
BachEglwys FachHermit
Probably spurious[14]
BaglanBaglanSon of Ithel Hael, prince of Armorica
BaglanLlanfaglanSon of Dingad
Baruc
or Barruc
or 29 November
Beuno
or Bono
Clynnog Fawr21 or Descendant of Vortigern, king of Britain
Bidofydd
Bieuzi
Bleddyn
or Bleiddian
or Lupus
Bishop
Bodfan
Brannoc
or Brannock
Braunton or 26 June
Brioc
BrothenLlanfrothen15 or
King of BrycheiniogVenerated in his generation but of disputed status now.
Husband of Prawst
In Wales, considered the father of Dwynwen; in Cornwall, considered the father of Adwen.
Brynach
or Byrnach
Abbot
The translation of his relics was sometimes celebrated separately on 26 June.
Buan
Bugi
or Beugi
or Bywgi
or Hywgi
Father of Beuno and brother of Cadoc[15]
CadfanLlangadfan Grandson of Budic II of BrittanyFounding abbot of Tywyn and Bardsey abbeys
Cadfarch
Cadoc
or Catwg
Caerleon
Cadwaladr Fendigaid
or Cadwalader
Llangadwaladr
Llangadwaladr
Son of Cadwallon, king of Gwynedd
CaffoLlangaffoChild of King Caw of Strathclyde
Caian
Saint Cain
or Keyne
or Ceinwen
Cerrigceinwen
Llangeinwen
Child of King Caw of Strathclyde
Callwen
Cammarch
Caradog
or Caradoc
Lawrenny Noble of BrecknockshireHermit
Carannog
or Carantoc
Llangrannog
Crantock (Cornwall)
15, 16,, or 15 Jan Great-grandson of Ceredig, king of Ceredigion
CaronTregaron Possibly the same as Carausius (Roman name). However, Baring-Gould associates him with Ciaran[16] Bishop or King
Cathan
or Cathen
St Cathan's Chapel
Colonsay & Luing
Gigha
Cedol
CeidioChild of King Caw of Strathclyde
Ceitho
CelyninLlangelynnin Son of Prince Helig
CeneuClydau Son of Corun
Cenydd
or Cennydd
or Kenneth
Llangennith
Languidic (Brittany)
Son of "King Dihoc"
(presumably Deroch II of Domnonée)
CennychLlangennych
CewyddAberedw
Lancaut
Laleston
1, 2 or Child of King Caw of Strathclyde
Llangian
Cieran
or Ciarán of Saigir
or Kieran
Saighir (Ireland) Son of Lugna, a noble of the Osraige
Ciwa
or Cigwa
or Kywa
or Kew
St Kew (Cornwall)[17] 6 or [18] Virgin
sister of St Docco
Clydai
Clydog
or Clintacus
or 3 Nov ([19])King
Clydwyn
or Cledwyn
Son of Brychan, king of BrycheiniogKing
Clydyn
or Clydau
CollenLlangollen
Langolen (France)
21 or
Colman
Corentin
Cowdra
or Cawrdaf
or 21 Feb King
CreirwyGreat-granddaughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog, granddaughter of Budic II
Cristiolus
Cubert see Gwbert
Curig16 or
Cwyfen3 or 2 or
CwyllogLlangwyllogChild of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Cybi5, 6 or, or 13 Aug Abbot
Descended from both Seithenyn, king of Gwyddno, & Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
CyllinSon of Caratacus
Cynbryd19 or
Cynddilig
Cyndeyrn
or Kentigern
or Mungo
Glasgow or 25 Jul Son of Owain, king of Rheged, and Saint Teneu
Cynfab
CynfarchLlanfair Dyffryn Clwyd
CynfarwyLlechgynfarwy8, 10 or
Cyngar
or Congar
Holyhead
Llangefni
Child of Gerren Llyngesog of DumnoniaAbbot
Cynhafal
CynidrGlasbury Grandson of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
Llangoedmor17 or or 8 Aug Grandson of King CoelKing
Cynog14 or or 9 Oct
Cywair
CynwylCynwyl Elfed
Cynwyl Gaeo
Descended from Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
David
or Dewi Sant
St David's Great-grandson of Seithenyn, king of Gwyddno, & of Brychan, king of BrycheiniogPatron Saint of Wales
Decuman
or Degyman
Watchet (England)
Williton (England)
27 or
27 February[20]
Deifer
or Dier
Deiniol
or Daniel
Bangor or 10 Dec Bishop
Deiniolen22 or
Derfel GadarnLlandderfel
Deruvian
or Duvian
or Damian
Merthyr Dyfan (mistakenly)
Llandyfan (mistakenly)
Digain
Dilwar
DingadLlandovery Son of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
DiryngChild of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Dochelin
Dochau
or Dochow
or Dochwy
or Dogwyn
or Docco
Llandough, Cowbridge
Llandough, Penarth
St Kew (Cornwall)[21]
Dogfael or 14 Jun
Dogfan
or Doewan
13 or Son of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
Dominica
Dona
or Dwna
Llandona
Dubhán
St Dubhán's Church, Hook Head (Ireland)
Dunod
or Dunawd
Abbot
Dwynwen
or Dweynween
or 13 Jul Daughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
DyfanMerthyr Dyfan
Llandyfan
DyfnanLlanddyfnan22 or Alleged son of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
DyfnogLlanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch
DyfodwgLlantrisant
Dyfrig
or Dubricius
Abbot
The translation of his relics was sometimes separately celebrated on 29 May.
Edeyrn
or Edern
Llanedeyrn or 6 Jan Descendant of Vortigern, king of Britain
Edwen
EgwadLlangwad
Llanfynydd
EigenLlanigon
Eigion Bishop
EigonLlanigonGrandson of Brychan Brycheiniog
EigradLlaneugradChild of Caw, king of Strathclyde
EigronLlanigon
(Cornwall)
Child of Caw, king of Strathclyde
EilianLlaneilian (Orth.)A Roman who emigrated to Anglesey to live as a hermit
EirwEglwyswrw[22] Female saint
Einion FreninLlanengan9 or Descendant of Cunedda, king of Gwynedd
Elaeth
or Eleth
Amlwch10 or King of a realm in northern Britain who fled to Wales
ElenDaughter of Eudaf Hen
Elfan
ElfinWarrington (England)
Elian
or Elien
Llanelian
ElledeyrnDescendant of Vortigern, king of Britain
ElliLlanelli Abbot
Saint Eluned
or Eiliwedd
or Almedha
Slwch Tump Daughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
Elvis
of Eilfyw
or Ailbe
St Elvis
Elwad
Elyw
or Eliw
14 or
EnddwynFfynnon Enddwyn, Llanenddwyn
Endelienta
or Endellion
Church of St Endelienta, St Endellion (Cornwall)Daughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
EnoderSt Enoder (Cornwall)
Enodoch
Erbin or 13 Jan
Erfyl
or Urfyl
Llanerfyl
Child of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Eurgain
Ewryd
Fagan
or Ffagan
or Fugatius
St Fagans or 8 Aug
26 May
Ffinian
or Finian
Ffraid
or Bridget
or Bride
or Bhrid
Llansantffraed
Llansantffraid
Llansantffraid-ym-MechainLlansantffraid Glan Conwy
Irish patron saint. Nun and abbess.
Fidalis
Finan
of Ffinan
17 or
18 March
Bishop
Flewyn
or Fflewin
or Fflewyn
Llanfflewin Son of Ithel Hael
Foeddog
or Maeddog
or Maedoc
Child of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Gafran[23]
Gallgo
GalloChild of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Garmon
or Germanus of Auxerre
Llanarmon-yn-Iâl31, 13, 14 or, or or ([24])Bishop
Credited with leading an army of Britons against invading Picts
Llangeler
Beddgelert
Gildas or AneurinChild of Caw, king of Strathclyde.Possibly the poet Aneirin. Credited in Wales as the father of Saint Aeddan
Gistilian
or Gistlian
2 or Bishop
Gofor
Gollen
or Colin
St. Govan's Head
- style="vertical-align:top;"GredifaelPenmynydd13 or Son of Ithel Hael
Grwst
Perros-Guirec
GurthiernQuimperléCousin of Vortigern, king of Britain
GwbertGwbert-on-Sea Venerated also at Cubert, Cornwall; Cubert is said to have been a monk who came from Wales and assisted Carantoc in evangelizing that district; later returned to his monastery and became abbot and died in 775 AD; feast at Cubert is on Sunday following 4 Oct.[25] [26] [27]
Gwen
or Wenna
GwenafwyDaughter of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Gwenfaen3, 4 or
Gwenfyl
Gwynhoedl ([28])
GwenllianDaughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
Gwenlleu Bishop
GwenllwyfoLlanwenllwyfo
Gwenog
Gwenrhiw
GwladysDaughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
Gwrda
GwrddelwLlanddewi Brefi Child of Caw, king of Strathclyde
GwrfywBangor (formerly)Son of Pasgen
GwrhaiChild of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Gwrnerth ([29])
Gwrthwl
or Mwthwl
Gwyrd Friar
Gwyddelan
Gwyddfarch
Gwynan
or Gwynen
GwyninDwygyfylchi
Gwynllyw Filwr or Gundleus
(Eng Woolos or Woolo)
Newport Cathedral, St Woolos29 or
Husband of Gwladys, father of Cadoc and others[30]
GwynnoLlantrisant
Llanwynno
Gwynog22, 23 or
Gwynws
HenwgLlanhennock
HuailSon of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Hychan
HywelLlanhywel
Llanllowell
Son of Emyr Llydaw, king of BrittanyKing
IdloesLlanidloes
IestynLlaniestyn
Llaniestyn
Ilar
or Hilary
Llanilar
Trefilan
13, 14 or -
IlidLlanilid
Illog
Illtud
or Illtyd
Llantwit Major
InaLlanina ([31])Granddaughter of Cunedda Wledig, king of Gwynedd
IsanLlanishen
Isfael
or Ismael
St Ishmaels Son of Budig
IsselSaundersfoot
Issui
Ithel HaelPrince of Armorica
Father of numerous saints
Jacut
John RobertsMonk and priest
Born Trawsfynydd, 1577
Martyred at Tyburn 1610[32]
John LloydPriest and martyr
Executed Cardiff, 1679[33]
Julitta16 or
JuliusCaerleon (
20 June
Justinian
or Stinan
Llanstinan
Saint David's
Sherborne Abbey
Keina
Kevoca
Llamined Angel
Llawddog
or Lleuddad
Abbot
LlechidLlanllechid Child of Ithel Hael
Llibio
Llily
Llwchaiarn
or Lluwchaiarn
12 or
Llwydian
Llwni
Llyr Virgin
Llywelyn or 12 Dec
LythanSt Lythans
Mabyn
or Mabena
St Mabyn (Cornwall)Daughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
Machraith
Madoc
MadronMadron (Cornwall)
Madrun
or Materiana
MaëlCorwen13 or
MaelogLlanfaelog ([34])Child of Caw, king of Strathclyde
Maelrhys
or Maelrys
or Maelerw
Bardsey Island
Maethlu
Maidoc Bishop
Not to be conflated with Aeddan Foeddog of Ferns
MalloniusRouen
Saint Malo
or Machudd
or Machutus
Mannacus
Marnock
Materiana
or Madrun
or Madryn
Minster (Cornwall) Daughter of Saint Vortimer, king of Gwent
Mawgan
Mawnan
Mechell
or Mechyll
Llanfechell15 or
Meddwid
or Moddwid
Medwy Bishop
MeiligLlowes14 or
Meirion
or Meirian
MelaineSt Mellion
Mullion
Melangell
or Monacella
Pennant Melangell or 4 or 31 Jan Virgin
Abbess
Mellonius
Melyd
or Melydyn
MenefridaSt Minver (Cornwall)Daughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
Merin
or Merryn
St Merryn
Lanmerin
Plomelin
Child of Seithenyn, king of Gwyddno
Daughter of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
Mordeyrn
Mylling
Mylor
or Melor
Meugan25 or, 14 Feb, 24 or 15 Apr or 18 Nov
Morhaiarn
Mwrog24 or
Mynver
NectanHartland (England)Eldest son of Brychan, king of Brycheiniog
NidanLlanidan Grandchild of Pasgen
Noethan
or Noethon
22, 23 or
Non
or Nonita
Chapel of St Non
Altarnun (Cornwall)
Great-granddaughter of Seithenyn, king of Gwyddno
Noyale
OudoceusLlandaff
Llandogo
Bishop
Pabo Post Prydain
PadarnLlanbadarn Fawr

Notes and References

  1. Baring-Gould (1898), p. 41.
  2. Baring-Gould (1898), p. 26.
  3. Baring-Gould, Sabine. The Lives of the Saints, Vol. XVI, "The Celtic Church and its Saints", pp. 30 - 40. Longmans, Green, &&nbsp;Co. (New York), 1898.
  4. Rowan Williams, Reviews and comments on 'The Book of Welsh Saints'.
  5. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. I, pp. 103 ff.
  6. Baring-Gould, Sabine &&nbsp;al. The Lives of the British Saints: The Saints of Wales and Cornwall and Such Irish Saints as Have Dedications in Britain, Vol. I, pp. 101 ff. Chas. Clark (London), 1908. Hosted at Archive.org. Accessed 18 Nov 2014.
  7. The Church in Wales. "The Book of Common Prayer for Use in the Church in Wales: The New Calendar and the Collects". 2003. Accessed 18 Nov 2014.
  8. The Catholic Church in England and Wales. "Liturgy Office: February 2015". Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, 2014. Accessed 18 Nov 2014.
  9. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. I, pp. 116 ff.
  10. Web site: Ford. David Nash. The Holy Shrines of St. Albans in Hertfordshire. Britannica. 25 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20100131073433/http://www.britannia.com/church/shrines/amphibalus.html. 31 January 2010. dead.
  11. Book: Thurston. Herbert. The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1907. Robert Appleton Company. New York. retrieved from Web site: St Alban. New Advent. 25 April 2015.
  12. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. I, p. 72.
  13. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 2nd edition, E. A. Livingstone, 2000, Oxford University Press, p. 40.
  14. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. I, p. 212.
  15. Book: Baring-Gould. S.. Fisher. John. Sabine Baring-Gould. Lives of the British Saints: Vol 1. 1907. Honorable Society of Cymrrodorion. 340.
  16. Book: Baring-Gould. Sabine. The Lives of the British Saints, Vol. II. 135.
  17. [Gilbert Hunter Doble|Doble, G.H.]
  18. Cornish Church Guide, p. 10. Blackford (Truro).
  19. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. I, p. 73.
  20. Challoner, Richard. A Memorial of Ancient British Piety: or, a British Martyrology. W. Needham, 1761. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  21. Doble, G. H. (1965) Saints of Cornwall, Part 4: Newquay, Padstow and Bodmin district. Truro: Dean & Chapter; pp. 105-109
  22. Charles. B.G.. The Placenames of Pembrokeshire, Volume I. National Library of Wales. 1992. 978-0-907158-58-5. 42.
  23. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. III, p. 42.
  24. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. I, p. 74.
  25. [Welsh chronicles]
  26. Doble, G. H. (1965) The Saints of Cornwall; Part 4: saints of the Newquay, Padstow and Bodmin district. Truro: Dean and Chapter; p. 50
  27. Cornish Church Guide (1925) Truro: Blackford; p. 14
  28. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. I, p. 70.
  29. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. I, p. 71.
  30. Web site: Welcome To Newport Cathedral . Newport Cathederal . 2019-06-03 . 2021-03-21.
  31. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. III, p. 350.
  32. Book: Thurston. Herbert. The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1907. Robert Appleton Company. New York. retrieved from Web site: St. John Roberts. New Advent. 25 April 2015.
  33. Book: Thurston. Herbert. The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1907. Robert Appleton Company. New York. retrieved from Web site: St. John Lloyd. New Advent. 25 April 2015.
  34. Baring-Gould (1908), Vol. I, pp. 76.