Welsh Saints and Martyrs
Cenydd

Cenydd

 Back

 Previous

Next

Cenydd (in modern Welsh Cennydd; in modern English Kenneth; in French Kinède) was a Welsh hermit saint who traditionally lived in the 6th century.

According to the unreliable Iolo Morganwg, he was one of the sons of Gildas. He married and had a son before entering Llanilltud Fawr as a monk under Saint Illtud. More reliable tradition suggests he was the founder of the church of Llangennith on the Gower Peninsula in Glamorgan and later travelled to Brittany, where his cultus was centred around Languidic. He also had a chapel at Ploumelin.

Legend
Cenydd's rather unusual legend was collected in truncated form by John Capgrave from various Welsh sources, and may be found in the Nova Legenda Angliae. According to this, the saint was a Breton prince, the son of King 'Dihoc' (presumably Deroch II of Domnonée) born of incest apparently at Loughor in Glamorgan while his father attended King Arthur. As an unwanted cripple, Cenydd was placed in a cradle made of osiers and cast into the River Loughor. He was washed out to sea, eventually landing on 'Ynys Weryn' or Worm's Head Island. Here, the local seagulls and a series of angelic interventions, involving a miraculous breast-shaped bell, ensured that he survived and was educated as a Christian. He became a hermit, his only companion being an untrustworthy servant, whose dishonesty was revealed when he stole a spear from one of a group of robbers who had been hospitably received by his master. Saint David later cured Cenydd of his deformity while travelling to the Synod of Brefi in 545. The hermit, however, preferred to remain as he was born and prayed for his previous condition to be restored. The story breaks off abruptly at this point.

Historicity and veneration
Evidence from liturgical calendars and Welsh place-name evidence both suggest the historical existence of Cenydd. His legend, however, appears to be pure fabrication. His feast day is 1 August. William Worcester also records the feast of his translation, apparently to somewhere in North Wales, on 27 June.
 


 

[Home] [Artists] [Arts & Crafts] [Buildings] [Entertainers] [Events] [Famous Welsh] [Food & Drink] [Journalists] [Musicians] [Places] [Politicians] [Products] [Songs] [Sport] [Symbols] [Writers] [Welsh Info] [Welsh Produce] [About Us] [Vox Pop] [Our Sponsors] [Contact Us] [Facebook Fans] [Welsh News] [Welsh Shop]

All copyrights acknowledged with thanks to Wikipedia. Another site by 3Cat Design 2006-2010
Whilst we try to give accurate information, we accept no liability for loss or incorrect information listed on this site or from material embedded
on this site from external sources such as YouTube.
If you do spot a mistake, please let us know. Email: Info@welshicons.org.uk

 


Welsh News


Join us on Facebook


Follow us on Twitter

 

 

Key

Bold Red
Internal Link
Red
External Link

                 Admission Charges
                 Address
                 Arts/Galleries
                 Buses
                 B&B’s/Guest Houses
                 Campsites/Caravans
                 Castles
                 Credit Cards
                 Cricket
                 Disabled Facilities
                 Email
                 Farmers Markets
                 Fax
                 Film
                 Food
                 Football
                 Parks/Gardens
                 Golf
                 Historic Houses
                 Hotels
                 Libraries
                 Museums
                 Opening Hours
                 Places of Worship
                 Pubs/Bars
                 Rugby
                 Shops/Gifts
                 Taxis:
                 Telephone No.
                 Theatres
                 Tourist Information
                 Trains
                 Vets
                 Web Address
                 Welsh Produce
                 Youth Hostels
                 llustration(s) or photograph(s) viewable Illustration(s) or photograph(s)

 

Please help us to keep this site
running as a free resource