Clas (ecclesiastical settlement)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A clas (plural clasau) was a native Christian church in early medieval Wales. Unlike later Norman monasteries, which were made up of a main religious building supported by several smaller buildings, such as cloisters and kitchens, a clas was normally a single building. The building was run by a community of clergy and headed by an abod. Clasau were autonomous and were administered locally.[1]
Following the Norman invasion of Wales in the late 11th century, many of the clasau of South Wales became dependencies of religious houses in England. This resulted in several sites becoming part of the Benedictine or Augustinian orders, or built upon in the following centuries by Norman churches.
Clas locations in Wales
- Abergele, now the location of St Michael's church
- Bangor, St. Deiniol's clas
- Beddgelert, became an Augustinian monastery
- Clynnog Fawr, now the location of St. St Beuno's church
- Coychurch, now the location of St. Crallo's church
- Glasbury, which is named after the clas
- Henllan[2]
- Llanbadarn Fawr, Ceredigion, one of the leading clas of early Christian Wales
- Llancarfan, associated with St. Cadog
- Llandeilo, established by St Teilo
References
- ↑ Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Menna, Baines et al., eds. (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
- ↑ "Early Christianity in Wales". BBC Wales. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.