The Search for San Ffraid
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Search for San Ffraid ‘A thesis submitted to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in the fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts’ 2012 Jeanne Mehan 1 Abstract The Welsh traditions related to San Ffraid, called in Ireland and Scotland St Brigid (also called Bride, Ffraid, Bhríde, Bridget, and Birgitta) have not previously been documented. This Irish saint is said to have traveled to Wales, but the Welsh evidence comprises a single fifteenth-century Welsh poem by Iorwerth Fynglwyd; numerous geographical dedications, including nearly two dozen churches; and references in the arts, literature, and histories. This dissertation for the first time gathers together in one place the Welsh traditions related to San Ffraid, integrating the separate pieces to reveal a more focused image of a saint of obvious importance in Wales. As part of this discussion, the dissertation addresses questions about the relationship, if any, of San Ffraid, St Brigid of Kildare, and St Birgitta of Sweden; the likelihood of one San Ffraid in the south and another in the north; and the inclusion of the goddess Brigid in the portrait of San Ffraid. 2 Contents ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ 2 CONTENTS........................................................................................................................ 3 FIGURES ............................................................................................................................ 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ 12 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 13 The Current Discussion .................................................................................................. 13 About St Brigid of Kildare ............................................................................................. 19 Lives in which St Brigid Travels to Britain .................................................................... 20 St Birgitta of Sweden ..................................................................................................... 22 Written References to San Ffraid ................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER 2, IORWERTH FYNGLWYD, I SAN FFRAID ....................................... 26 CHAPTER 3, DEDICATIONS, TRADITIONS, AND CUSTOMS ............................ 38 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 38 The transition between pre-Christian and Christian religions ........................................ 40 ANGLESEY...................................................................................................................... 42 Tywyn-y-Capel ............................................................................................................... 42 St Ffraid Church, Trearddur Bay, Anglesey .................................................................. 45 Afon Braint ..................................................................................................................... 45 CEREDIGION ................................................................................................................. 46 The Pilgrim Routes......................................................................................................... 46 St Bridget Church, Llansantffraed ................................................................................. 47 Llansantffraid Priory and Nunnery ................................................................................ 49 St Ffraid Church, Tregroes ............................................................................................. 49 Llanfihangel Genau’r Glyn ............................................................................................ 51 Fferm Glanfrêd ............................................................................................................... 54 Swyddffynnon ................................................................................................................ 55 DENBIGHSHIRE ............................................................................................................ 57 St Ffraid Church, Llansantffraid Glan Conwy ............................................................... 57 3 Llansantffraid Glan Conwy Holy Well .......................................................................... 58 St Ffraid Church, Carrog ................................................................................................ 58 Ffynnon St Ffraid, Llansantffraid Glyn Dyfrdwy .......................................................... 60 St Ffraid Church, Llansanffraid-Glyn-Ceiriog ............................................................... 61 Glyn Ceiriog Holy Well ................................................................................................. 63 FLINTSHIRE ................................................................................................................... 63 The Church of St Bridget and St Cwyfan, Lower Dyserth ............................................ 63 St Brides Well [Ffynnon Ffraid] .................................................................................... 66 GLAMORGAN ................................................................................................................ 66 St Bride Church, St Brides-super-Ely [Llansanffraid-ar-Elái] ....................................... 66 St Bride Church [St Brides Minor, Llansanffraid-ar-Ogwr] .......................................... 71 St Bridget Church, St Brides Major [Saint-y-Brid]........................................................ 73 MONMOUTHSHIRE ...................................................................................................... 78 St Bride Church, Skenfrith (in Welsh, Ynysgynwraidd) ................................................ 78 Holy Wells Near Skenfrith ............................................................................................. 79 Llansantffraed House and St Bridget’s Church .............................................................. 79 St Bridget Church, St Brides Netherwent (in Welsh, Sant-y-brid) ................................ 81 St Bridget Church, St Brides Wentloog .............................................................................................................. 83 PEMBROKESHIRE ........................................................................................................ 86 St Davids, Brawdy.......................................................................................................... 86 St Brides Haven .............................................................................................................. 88 St Brides Church, St Brides Haven ................................................................................ 89 St Nons Chapel ............................................................................................................... 90 Church of St Katherine and St Peter, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire .......................... 92 St Brides Catholic Church, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire ............................................. 93 Ffynnon Ffraid, Castell Henllys ..................................................................................... 93 POWYS ............................................................................................................................. 93 Llansanffraid Cwmdeuddwr ........................................................................................... 93 Tomen Llansantffraid ..................................................................................................... 94 Tomen-San-Ffraid .......................................................................................................... 96 Possible Monastery ........................................................................................................ 96 4 Llansantffraed-yn-Elfael ................................................................................................ 97 Llansaintffraed in Elvel Priory/Llanllugan Nunnery ................................................... 100 Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain ......................................................................................... 101 Llansantffraed-juxta-Usk ............................................................................................. 103 Thomas and Henry Vaughan ........................................................................................ 104 TRADITIONS RELATED TO SAN FFRAID ............................................................ 105 About the Dedications .................................................................................................. 105 Iconography .................................................................................................................. 105 Church Traditions ......................................................................................................... 114 Local Customs .............................................................................................................. 116 Bells .............................................................................................................................. 117 Music ...........................................................................................................................