Nidan
Encyclopedia
Nidan was a Welsh priest (and, according to some sources, a bishop) in the 6th and 7th centuries who is commemorated as a saint. He was the confessor
for the monastery
headed by St Seiriol
at Penmon and established a church at what is now known as Llanidan
(which are both places on the Welsh island of Anglesey
). He is the patron saint of two churches in Anglesey: St Nidan's Church, Llanidan
, built in the 19th century, and its medieval predecessor, the Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan
. Midmar Old Kirk in Aberdeenshire
, Scotland, is also dedicated to him: Nidan is said to have helped to establish Christianity in that area as a companion of St Kentigern. St Nidan's, Llanidan, has a reliquary
dating from the 14th or 16th century, which is said to house his relics.
(which has been dated to the 14th century), he was the son of Gwrfyw ab Pasgen ab Urien Rheged. He was a descendant of Urien Rheged (as was Saint Grwst
of Llanrwst
, a town on the north Wales mainland in present-day Conwy County Borough). Urien was a "celebrated warrior" from the late 5th century, whose deeds were commemorated by the Welsh poet Taliesin
.
Nidan was associated with St Seiriol
's monastery at Penmon, on the eastern tip of Anglesey
in north Wales, and was the monastery's confessor
. He is also referred to as a bishop in one source. He founded a church
in what is now known as Llanidan
, also on Anglesey, near to the Menai Straits. According to tradition, this was established in 616. He is reported to have lived at Cadair Idan, near the church, and a well about 200 yards (182.9 m) away from the church is reputed to be his holy well.
Nidan is said to have been one of the 665 monks who travelled with St Kentigern (also known as St Mungo, and reputed to be a cousin of his) from Llanelwy, north Wales, to Scotland
. Together with another of Kentigern's companions, Finan or Ffinan, they are said to have established Christianity in Midmar (in what is now Aberdeenshire
) in the 7th century. A church in Midmar was dedicated to Nidan. However, the existence of a link between Nidan and Kentigern has been doubted, with one author saying that "the whole idea that these people [i.e. Nidan and Ffinan] had any connection with Kentigern is without any real foundation."
According to some sources, he died in about 610 (which would be inconsistent with the reported foundation date for the church at Llanidan of 616).
, was in use until the middle of the 19th century when it was replaced by St Nidan's Church, Llanidan
, nearer to the village of Brynsiencyn. This was for two reasons: the old church needed repair, and also because the population of Brynsiencyn needed a church. The old church was then partially demolished. The new church contains a sandstone reliquary
, about 26 inches (66 cm) long, which is said to contain Nidan's relics. The reliquary's date is uncertain: it has been described as being "probably" from the 14th century, but also, in a more recent description, as "probably 16th century". It was found buried under the altar of the old church in 1700.
His feast day in the Welsh calendar of saints is 30 September; in the Scottish calendar of saints, it is 3 November. Nidan was venerated as a saint, although he was never canonized by a pope: as the historian Jane Cartwright notes, "In Wales sanctity was locally conferred and none of the medieval Welsh saints appears to have been canonized by the Roman Catholic Church".
Confessor
-Confessor of the Faith:Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith, but not to the point of death. The term is still used in this way in the East. In Latin Christianity it has come to signify any saint, as well as those who have been declared...
for the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
headed by St Seiriol
Seiriol
Seiriol was an early 6th century saint, who created a cell at Penmon Priory on Anglesey, off the coast of north Wales. He later moved to Ynys Seiriol . He was a son of King Owain Danwyn of Rhos....
at Penmon and established a church at what is now known as Llanidan
Llanidan
Llanidan is a parish in south-west Anglesey, Wales which includes the village of Brynsiencyn. The parish is located along the Menai Strait, approximately 4 miles north-east of Caernarfon . The parish church is located near the A4080 highway, a little to the east of Brynsiencyn...
(which are both places on the Welsh island of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
). He is the patron saint of two churches in Anglesey: St Nidan's Church, Llanidan
St Nidan's Church, Llanidan
St Nidan's Church, Llanidan is a 19th-century parish church near the village of Brynsiencyn, in Anglesey, north Wales. Built between 1839 and 1843, it replaced the Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan, which needed significant repair, providing a place of Anglican worship nearer to the village than...
, built in the 19th century, and its medieval predecessor, the Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan
Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan
The Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan is a medieval church, closed and partly in ruins, in the community of Llanidan, in Anglesey, north Wales. The first church on this site, close to the Menai Strait, was established in the 7th century by St Nidan, the confessor of the monastery at Penmon,...
. Midmar Old Kirk in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland, is also dedicated to him: Nidan is said to have helped to establish Christianity in that area as a companion of St Kentigern. St Nidan's, Llanidan, has a reliquary
Reliquary
A reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
dating from the 14th or 16th century, which is said to house his relics.
Life
Little is known in detail about Nidan's life, and his year and place of birth are unknown. He is sometimes referred to as "Midan" or "Idan". According to manuscript sources, such as Peniarth MS 45 in the National Library of WalesNational Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
(which has been dated to the 14th century), he was the son of Gwrfyw ab Pasgen ab Urien Rheged. He was a descendant of Urien Rheged (as was Saint Grwst
Saint Grwst
Saint Grwst the Confessor was a 6th and 7th century saint operating in the Welsh Kingdom of Gwynedd.-Family:...
of Llanrwst
Llanrwst
Llanrwst is a small town and community on the A470 road and the River Conwy in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It takes its name from the 5th century to 6th century Saint Grwst, and the original parish church in Cae Llan was replaced by the 12th-century church....
, a town on the north Wales mainland in present-day Conwy County Borough). Urien was a "celebrated warrior" from the late 5th century, whose deeds were commemorated by the Welsh poet Taliesin
Taliesin
Taliesin was an early British poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin...
.
Nidan was associated with St Seiriol
Seiriol
Seiriol was an early 6th century saint, who created a cell at Penmon Priory on Anglesey, off the coast of north Wales. He later moved to Ynys Seiriol . He was a son of King Owain Danwyn of Rhos....
's monastery at Penmon, on the eastern tip of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
in north Wales, and was the monastery's confessor
Confessor
-Confessor of the Faith:Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith, but not to the point of death. The term is still used in this way in the East. In Latin Christianity it has come to signify any saint, as well as those who have been declared...
. He is also referred to as a bishop in one source. He founded a church
Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan
The Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan is a medieval church, closed and partly in ruins, in the community of Llanidan, in Anglesey, north Wales. The first church on this site, close to the Menai Strait, was established in the 7th century by St Nidan, the confessor of the monastery at Penmon,...
in what is now known as Llanidan
Llanidan
Llanidan is a parish in south-west Anglesey, Wales which includes the village of Brynsiencyn. The parish is located along the Menai Strait, approximately 4 miles north-east of Caernarfon . The parish church is located near the A4080 highway, a little to the east of Brynsiencyn...
, also on Anglesey, near to the Menai Straits. According to tradition, this was established in 616. He is reported to have lived at Cadair Idan, near the church, and a well about 200 yards (182.9 m) away from the church is reputed to be his holy well.
Nidan is said to have been one of the 665 monks who travelled with St Kentigern (also known as St Mungo, and reputed to be a cousin of his) from Llanelwy, north Wales, to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Together with another of Kentigern's companions, Finan or Ffinan, they are said to have established Christianity in Midmar (in what is now Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
) in the 7th century. A church in Midmar was dedicated to Nidan. However, the existence of a link between Nidan and Kentigern has been doubted, with one author saying that "the whole idea that these people [i.e. Nidan and Ffinan] had any connection with Kentigern is without any real foundation."
According to some sources, he died in about 610 (which would be inconsistent with the reported foundation date for the church at Llanidan of 616).
Commemoration
The Old Church of St Nidan, LlanidanOld Church of St Nidan, Llanidan
The Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan is a medieval church, closed and partly in ruins, in the community of Llanidan, in Anglesey, north Wales. The first church on this site, close to the Menai Strait, was established in the 7th century by St Nidan, the confessor of the monastery at Penmon,...
, was in use until the middle of the 19th century when it was replaced by St Nidan's Church, Llanidan
St Nidan's Church, Llanidan
St Nidan's Church, Llanidan is a 19th-century parish church near the village of Brynsiencyn, in Anglesey, north Wales. Built between 1839 and 1843, it replaced the Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan, which needed significant repair, providing a place of Anglican worship nearer to the village than...
, nearer to the village of Brynsiencyn. This was for two reasons: the old church needed repair, and also because the population of Brynsiencyn needed a church. The old church was then partially demolished. The new church contains a sandstone reliquary
Reliquary
A reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
, about 26 inches (66 cm) long, which is said to contain Nidan's relics. The reliquary's date is uncertain: it has been described as being "probably" from the 14th century, but also, in a more recent description, as "probably 16th century". It was found buried under the altar of the old church in 1700.
His feast day in the Welsh calendar of saints is 30 September; in the Scottish calendar of saints, it is 3 November. Nidan was venerated as a saint, although he was never canonized by a pope: as the historian Jane Cartwright notes, "In Wales sanctity was locally conferred and none of the medieval Welsh saints appears to have been canonized by the Roman Catholic Church".
See also
Other Anglesey saints commemorated at local churches include:- CaffoCaffoCaffo was a sixth-century Christian in Anglesey, north Wales, who is venerated as a saint and martyr. The son of a king from northern Britain who took shelter in Anglesey, Caffo was a companion of St Cybi, and is mentioned as carrying a red-hot coal in his clothes to Cybi without his clothes...
at St Caffo's Church, LlangaffoSt Caffo's Church, LlangaffoSt Caffo's Church, Llangaffo is a 19th-century church, in the south of Anglesey, north Wales, about from the county town, Llangefni. It was constructed in 1846 to replace the previous medieval church in the village of Llangaffo. The new building includes a number of monuments from the old church,... - CwyllogCwyllogSaint Cwyllog was a Christian holy woman who was active in Anglesey, Wales, in the early 6th century. The daughter, sister and niece of saints, she is said to have founded St Cwyllog's Church, Llangwyllog, in the middle of Anglesey, where a church is still dedicated to her.-Life and...
at St Cwyllog's Church, LlangwyllogSt Cwyllog's Church, LlangwyllogSt Cwyllog's Church, Llangwyllog is a medieval church near Llangwyllog, in Anglesey, north Wales. St Cwyllog founded a church here in the 6th century, although the exact date is unknown. The existence of a church here was recorded in 1254 and parts of the present building may date from around 1200... - ElethElaethElaeth was a Christian king and poet in Britain in the 6th century who is venerated as a saint. After losing his territory in the north of Britain, he retreated to Anglesey, north Wales, where he lived at a monastery run by St Seiriol at Penmon...
at St Eleth's Church, AmlwchSt Eleth's Church, AmlwchSt Eleth's Church, Amlwch is a parish church built in the Neo-classical style in 1800 in Amlwch, a town on the island of Anglesey in north Wales. It stands on the site of earlier buildings, with the first church here said to have been established by St Elaeth in the 6th century... - Iestyn at St Iestyn's Church, LlaniestynSt Iestyn's Church, LlaniestynSt Iestyn's Church, Llaniestyn is a medieval church in Llaniestyn, Anglesey, in north Wales. A church is said to have been founded here by St Iestyn in the 7th century, with the earliest parts of the present building dating from the 12th century. The church was extended in the 14th century, with...
- PeulanPeulanSaint Peulan was a Welsh holy man in the early part of the 6th century, the son of Paulinus, a saint from south Wales who taught Saint David. A follower of Cybi, a saint associated with the island of Anglesey in north Wales, Peulan is commemorated in the dedication of the church he reportedly...
at St Peulan's Church, LlanbeulanSt Peulan's Church, LlanbeulanSt Peulan's Church, Llanbeulan is a disused medieval church in Llanbeulan, in Anglesey, north Wales. The nave, which is the oldest part of the building, dates from the 12th century, with a chancel and side chapel added in the 14th century... - TyfrydogTyfrydogTyfrydog was a Christian from north-west Wales in the fifth or sixth century, who was later venerated as a saint. He is said to have established a church in Anglesey, and although no part of the original structure remains, the current church is still dedicated to him...
at St Tyfrydog's Church, LlandyfrydogSt Tyfrydog's Church, LlandyfrydogSt Tyfrydog's Church, Llandyfrydog is a small medieval church, in Llandyfrydog, Anglesey, north Wales. The date of establishment of a church on this site is unknown, but one 19th-century Anglesey historian says that it was about 450...