Tanwg

Tanwg
Born late 5th century
Died 6th century
Feast 10 October

Saint Tanwg is the patron saint of Llandanwg, Gwynedd, Wales. He is presumed to be the founder of St Tanwg's Church, the small church at Llandanwg near Harlech, although the presence of two inscribed stones which have been dated from the 5th century, suggest the church was already in existence when Tanwg and his brothers arrived in the area early in the 6th century. The stones are inscribed with an unusual formula, used in the 4th century in Italy and Gaul.[1] The church building is medieval, probably dating from the 13th century.[2]

The parish church of Harlech was built in 1840 to replace the Llandanwg church is also dedicated to Saint Tanwg.[3]

Saint Tanwg is said to have been the son of Ithel the Generous of Armorica.[4] According to Enwogion Cymru, he was 'a saint who lived in the early part of the sixth century. He was one of the sons of Ithel Hael and he accompanied St Cadfan from Armorica to Britain in the time of Vortigern "who procured wise men and divines from Gaul, now called France, to renovate Christianity in this Island, in consequence of the decay and failure that had befallen the faith in Christ".[4] The Breton language at this time would have been very close to the Welsh of the period.

He was a member of the college of Bardsey which was founded as a monastery in 516 AD. He was the brother of Baglan, Trillo, Tegai, Twrog, Tecwyn, Gredifael, Flewyn and Llechid, and is commemorated 10 October.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Bowen, E.G. Saints, Seaways and Settlements. 1969.
  2. ↑ Llandanwg - Llanddyvnan, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849), pp. 505-11. Accessed 22 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "The Diocese of Bangor, Deanery of Ardudwy, St Tanwg, Harlech". Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 The Cambrian Quarterly Magazine and Celtic Repository, volume 2 (1830), p. 11.
  5. ↑ Enwogion Cymru: A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen, from the Earliest Times to the Present, and Including Every Name Connected with the Ancient History of Wales By Robert Williams, Llandovery, 1852.


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