St Govan
Encyclopedia
Saint Govan (died 586) was a hermit
who lived in a fissure on the side of coastal cliff near Bosherston
, in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
, Wales
. Saint Govan's Chapel was built in the fissure in the 14th century on what is now known as Saint Govan's Head.
who travelled to Wales late in life to seek the friends and family of the abbot
who had trained him, variously identified as Saint David
or Saint Ailbe of Emly
. Another story identifies Govan with Gawain
, one of King Arthur
's Knights of the Round Table; another that he was originally a thief.
Govan was set upon by pirates, from Ireland
or the nearby Lundy Island. The cliff opened up and left a fissure just big enough for him to hide in until the pirates left. In gratitude
, he decided to stay on along the cliff, probably to help warn the locals of the impending pirate attack if they were to return.
The present small vaulted chapel
of local limestone was built over the cave and dates from the 13th century although the site may have been of monastic importance since the 5th century. Legend says that St Govan may be identified with Sir Gwaine, one of King Arthur
's knights, who entered into a state of retreat in his later years. Originally St Govan caught fish and took water from two nearby springs. Both are now dry; one was where the medieval chapel now stands, the other, which was lower down the cliff, later became a holy well
. A legend says St Govan's hand prints are imprinted on the floor of his cave and his body is buried under the chapel's altar
. The cave was once a popular place for making wish
es.
its sound was of perfect tone and clarity. But pirates who heard the sound, left St Govan desolate when they stole the bell. Angels flew in and took it from the pirates and returned it to the hermit. To stop the pirates returning and taking it again, the angels encased the bell in a huge stone. The Bell Rock which is found at the water's edge. The legend said that that when St Govan "rang" the stone, its vigour had become a thousand times stronger.
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
who lived in a fissure on the side of coastal cliff near Bosherston
Bosherston
Bosherston is a small village in South Pembrokeshire, Wales within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.It is known for its beach, Broad Haven South and the Stackpole Estate lily ponds - both owned and maintained by the National Trust....
, in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is a national park along the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales.It was established as a National Park in 1952, and is the only one in the United Kingdom to have been designated primarily because of its spectacular coastline...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Saint Govan's Chapel was built in the fissure in the 14th century on what is now known as Saint Govan's Head.
Life
One story says Govan was an Irish monkCeltic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
who travelled to Wales late in life to seek the friends and family of the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
who had trained him, variously identified as Saint David
Saint David
Saint David was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is still uncertain, as suggestions range from 462 to...
or Saint Ailbe of Emly
Ailbe of Emly
Saint Ailbe was a sixth-century Irish bishop.He is sometimes claimed as one of the pre-Patrician Saints, with Ciaran, Declan, and Ibar, but the annals note his death in 528 . A tradition held that he went to Rome and was ordained bishop by the Pope...
. Another story identifies Govan with Gawain
Gawain
Gawain is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table who appears very early in the Arthurian legend's development. He is one of a select number of Round Table members to be referred to as the greatest knight, most notably in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight...
, one of King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
's Knights of the Round Table; another that he was originally a thief.
Govan was set upon by pirates, from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
or the nearby Lundy Island. The cliff opened up and left a fissure just big enough for him to hide in until the pirates left. In gratitude
Gratitude
Gratitude, thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a feeling, emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. The experience of gratitude has historically been a focus of several world religions, and has been considered extensively by moral...
, he decided to stay on along the cliff, probably to help warn the locals of the impending pirate attack if they were to return.
Chapel
St Govan lived within a small cave in the fissure of the cliff. This is now reached by a long flight of stone steps, the number of which is said to vary depending on whether one is ascending or descending.The present small vaulted chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
of local limestone was built over the cave and dates from the 13th century although the site may have been of monastic importance since the 5th century. Legend says that St Govan may be identified with Sir Gwaine, one of King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
's knights, who entered into a state of retreat in his later years. Originally St Govan caught fish and took water from two nearby springs. Both are now dry; one was where the medieval chapel now stands, the other, which was lower down the cliff, later became a holy well
Holy well
A holy well, or sacred spring, is a small body of water emerging from underground and revered either in a Pagan or Christian context, often both. Holy wells were frequently pagan sacred sites that later became Christianized. The term 'holy well' is commonly employed to refer to any water source of...
. A legend says St Govan's hand prints are imprinted on the floor of his cave and his body is buried under the chapel's altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
. The cave was once a popular place for making wish
Wish
A wish is a hope or desire for something. Fictionally, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used.-In literature:...
es.
The Bell Rock
Another legend regarding St Govan concerns his silver bell. He is supposed to have kept the bell in the tower of the chapel (regardless of the fact it was not built till the 14th century). When the bell pealedCampanology
Campanology is the study of bells. It encompasses the physical realities of bells — how they are cast, tuned and sounded — as well as the various methods devised to perform bell-ringing....
its sound was of perfect tone and clarity. But pirates who heard the sound, left St Govan desolate when they stole the bell. Angels flew in and took it from the pirates and returned it to the hermit. To stop the pirates returning and taking it again, the angels encased the bell in a huge stone. The Bell Rock which is found at the water's edge. The legend said that that when St Govan "rang" the stone, its vigour had become a thousand times stronger.
External links
- A history of St Govan.
- St Govan's pictures of the head and chapel, from photolibrarywales.com
- Historic image of the chapel
