Santes Dwynwen

Happy Dydd Santes Dwynwen!

25th January, a very important day for all lovers in Wales. Santes Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint for lovers. A bit like Valentine’s Day, but if you’re Welsh (or aspire to be) it’s so much better

The most romantic day of the year in Wales (it’s not Burn’s Night – which falls on the same day!)
You can exchange cards and gifts
Or treat yourselves to a special meal
Or go for a romantic walk
Or perhaps carve a lovespoon
Or, best of all, have a cwtch in front of a roaring fire!

So, who was Dwynwen and why is she a saint?

Dwynwen was a princess who lived in the 5th century and was by far, the prettiest of the 24 daughters of King Brychan Brycheiniog. She lived in what is now the Brecon Beacons. The image below gives a suggestion of what Dwynwen might have looked like

Sadly, Dwynwen was unlucky in love. She had fallen in love with a handsome man called Maelon Dafodrill from North Wales. However, her father, the king had other plans and wanted her to marry an important prince. She refused, and Maelon didn’t understand and became angry (so much so that God turned him into a block of ice!)

What was she to do?

In her despair, an angel appeared and offered three wishes (just like all of the best stories!). She asked:
That Maelon be thawed from the block of ice
That God help all true lovers and (most bizarrely)
Her third wish was that she would never marry!

The angel granted all three wishes. So, Dwynwen became a nun and travelled the length and breadth of Wales setting up church communities. When she arrived at a small island off the coast of Anglesey, she realised that this was to be her future home

She set up a nunnery on the island, and lived out her life in isolation and prayer. She’s buried in the churchyard that carries her name, St Dwynwen’s at Llandwynwen on Ynys Mon. She was declared a saint in the Middle Ages, but it was only in the 1960’s that we woke up to appreciate her importance

If you’re looking for a pilgrimage, you can’t ask for a better destination. But be careful, the church is not on an island, just a remote peninsular (except when there’s a high tide), on the southwest tip of the island of Anglesey

So, what has Dydd Santes Dwynwen got to do with Whitchurch? Not much apart from she’s our patron saint of lovers, and also it always falls on my birthday!

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