Gwynno
Encyclopedia
Gwynno, or Gwynnog ab Gildas, is the name of a 6th century Welsh saint
Archives at the Vatican record that his festival is October 26; he is regarded as a confessor
; and that there is said to be a sacred well, Ffynnon Wyno, associated with Llanwonno, in Glamorganshire.
Gwynno appears to have been the son of Cau, called Euryn y Coed aur.
During the Yellow Plague of 547, the monks of the dead Illtyd went for safety from West Wales to Brittany. Instead of returning to Pembrokeshire, they travelled east to Glamorgan to settle at Llantwit Major
(Llanilltud Fawr in Welsh
). It appears that Saint Illtud's monks were accompanied to Glamorgan by several of his disciples and associates, some of whom were Bretons, among them Gwynno.
The Celtic Bishop, Saint Dyfrig, founded three centres of learning in South-East Wales - at Llancarfan (near Cowbridge
), Caerworgorn (now Llantwit Major), and Caerleon
. Gwynno was one of the early members of the community at Llancarfan.
Under the name of Gwynno, he is considered to have been one of the three founders of Llantrisant
, Glamorganshire, together with Illtyd and Dyfodwg
; Llanwynno
, a chapel under Llantrisaint, is dedicated to him.
At Llanwynno, the farmhouse at Daearwynno was not far from the church; indeed Gwynno may have lived there, and may have owned the land around it. It is significant that the nearest farmhouse to the church was always known as Daearwynno - Gwynno's land, But it is not clear whether the land belonged to Gwynno the Saint, or whether it was a later acquisition of the church. There is no mention of Gwynno ever having performed miracles; no one knows of his work, or of the whereabouts of his grave, and not one of his writings has been preserved. Only Gwynno's name and Gwynno's church remain as a definite indication that he really did exist and as a monument to his work.
Llanwnog in the county of Montgomeryshire
claims him for its founder under the name of Gwynnog; and in the chancel window of this church he is delineated in painted glass in episcopal habits, with a mitre on his head, and a crosier in his hand; underneath is an inscription in old English characters, "Sanctus Gwinocus, cujus animae propitietur Deus. Amen."
He is not to be confounded with Gwenog, a virgin, the saint of Llanwenog, Cardiganshire.
Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
Archives at the Vatican record that his festival is October 26; he is regarded as a confessor
Confessor
-Confessor of the Faith:Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith, but not to the point of death. The term is still used in this way in the East. In Latin Christianity it has come to signify any saint, as well as those who have been declared...
; and that there is said to be a sacred well, Ffynnon Wyno, associated with Llanwonno, in Glamorganshire.
Gwynno appears to have been the son of Cau, called Euryn y Coed aur.
During the Yellow Plague of 547, the monks of the dead Illtyd went for safety from West Wales to Brittany. Instead of returning to Pembrokeshire, they travelled east to Glamorgan to settle at Llantwit Major
Llantwit Major
Llantwit Major is a small coastal town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the Bristol Channel coast. A small stream, the Afon Col-huw, runs through the town.-Local government:...
(Llanilltud Fawr in Welsh
Welsh
-Wales:* Wales, a country in the United Kingdom* Welsh language* Welsh people* Culture of Wales* Welsh cuisine-See also:*Walha*Welch *Walsh *Welshy...
). It appears that Saint Illtud's monks were accompanied to Glamorgan by several of his disciples and associates, some of whom were Bretons, among them Gwynno.
The Celtic Bishop, Saint Dyfrig, founded three centres of learning in South-East Wales - at Llancarfan (near Cowbridge
Cowbridge
Cowbridge is a market town in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales, approximately west of Cardiff. Cowbridge is twinned with Clisson in the Loire-Atlantique department in northwestern France.-Roman times:...
), Caerworgorn (now Llantwit Major), and Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
. Gwynno was one of the early members of the community at Llancarfan.
Under the name of Gwynno, he is considered to have been one of the three founders of Llantrisant
Llantrisant
Llantrisant is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The town's name translates as The Parish of the Three Saints. The three saints in question are St Illtyd, St Gwynno and St...
, Glamorganshire, together with Illtyd and Dyfodwg
Dyfodwg
Dyfodwg, or Tyfodwg, is the name of a 6th century Welsh saint, of whom very little evidence survives. According to research by Rice Rees, Tyfodwg was one of the associates of Cadfan , but the family line indicated for him in the available source, the Cambrian Biography, is inconsistent with known...
; Llanwynno
Llanwynno
Llanwynno is a hamlet high up in the mountains between the historic mining valleys of the Rhondda and Cynon Valleys in Rhondda Cynon Taf deep in the heart of the South Wales Valleys ....
, a chapel under Llantrisaint, is dedicated to him.
At Llanwynno, the farmhouse at Daearwynno was not far from the church; indeed Gwynno may have lived there, and may have owned the land around it. It is significant that the nearest farmhouse to the church was always known as Daearwynno - Gwynno's land, But it is not clear whether the land belonged to Gwynno the Saint, or whether it was a later acquisition of the church. There is no mention of Gwynno ever having performed miracles; no one knows of his work, or of the whereabouts of his grave, and not one of his writings has been preserved. Only Gwynno's name and Gwynno's church remain as a definite indication that he really did exist and as a monument to his work.
Llanwnog in the county of Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
claims him for its founder under the name of Gwynnog; and in the chancel window of this church he is delineated in painted glass in episcopal habits, with a mitre on his head, and a crosier in his hand; underneath is an inscription in old English characters, "Sanctus Gwinocus, cujus animae propitietur Deus. Amen."
He is not to be confounded with Gwenog, a virgin, the saint of Llanwenog, Cardiganshire.