The Prince…The virgin…..and the Hare

Saint. Melangell’s Church, Pennant Melangell, Berwyn’s, North Wales.

There is a true story, that sounds a little like magic that dates back to the 7th Century.  It is a long story with several variants in translation….so here is my abridged version.

There once was a Prince by the name of  Brochwel hunting in the valley of Pennant.  His hounds put up a Hare that after a chase went to cover in a thicket.  When the Prince investigated he found a young virgin by the name of Melangell at prayer and the Hare hiding beneath her long robes.  The hounds would not approach and in fact took off despite the huntsman’s best efforts to seek out the Hare.  Prince Brochwel ask the young girl her name and her intentions.  She told the Prince that she had come to this tranquil and serene valley to seek refuge and peaceful  sanctuary.  The Prince was so impressed with her godliness that he granted the valley to her…..so it is here that Melangell founded her religious community.

Pennant became a place of pilgrimage and soon Melangell’s community grew in stature and work recognised and she was named Saint Melangell. Today the valley is still a quiet, secluded and inspiring place.  Marking where the community was formed there is still a church named after her.  The church we see is not the original building but is in fact a much restored 12th century building….so still pretty old!  It was built to house the Shrine to Saint Melangell.  Alas she was not left to rest in peace and during the Reformations the shrine was destroyed.  Followers managed to rescue pieces of the shrine together with her relics which were used to repair parts of the Church and in particular the rather fine stone Lych Gate.  But the story has an even happier ending as some 25/30 years ago a plan to raise funds and fully restore the church and importantly the Shrine was undertaken…the results of these magnificent efforts can be seen below……

The Restored Interior of Saint Melangell

The Restored Romanesque styled Shrine to Saint Melangell

(Saint Melangells bones have been reinterred within)

The Stone Lych Gate.

Pennant Melangell is still a place of pilgrimage for those seeking peace and solitude. The beauty of the valley is overpowering surrounded by hills and on a day with blue skies there can be nowhere more inspiring.

 

24th July

© David Oakes 2014