St Govan

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St Govan was an Irish monk who came to Pembrokeshire late in life. The true reason for his visit is lost in the mists of history so will never be truly understood. He may have come to seek the friends and family of the Abbot who trained him, who came from Solva (Or Solfach in the Welsh language). He may have wanted a brief holiday and thought of the beautiful countryside of what is now the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Either way he was to be found in the exact spot where his chapel is now located, when he was set upon by pirates, probably from the nearby Lundy Island, found just off the coast.

Legend states that the cliff opened up and left a fissure just big enough for Govan to hide in and keep him safe until the pirates left. Either way, the monk was safe from the pirates, and decided to stay on along the cliff, probably to help warn the locals of the impending pirate attack if they were to return.

Govan lived in a small cell that he made in the rock (and is still visible today), living off the sea and the two fresh water springs that used to flow freely from nearby (One used to run from what is now inside the chapel, and one outside). The stone steps leading down to the chapel (as it is now) are said to be uncountable.

Also, within the chapel is the original cell that Govan lived in. It is said that if a man can walk in, make a wish and then turn around and the walk out of the cell the wish will come true. There is also the legend of the silver bell. Govan had a silver bell in the bell tower of the chapel that rang with absolute clarity. But the pirates stole it from them and left Govan desolate. Angels flew in and took it from the pirates and returned it to Govan. But as he was scared of the pirates and them taking it again, the angel encased the bell in a huge stone (The Bell Rock) found on the water's edge. It is said that when Govan rang the stone, it rang with such vigour it was 1000 times stronger.

Legend also states that Govan was buried under the alter within his chapel when he died in 586. It is also claimed that one of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, Sir Gawain, is buried there also and that these two people are one and the same. There has been no historical finding of a St Govan, so the name is probably a corruption of Sir Gawain. There is no hard evidence for either story.