Saint Grwst
Encyclopedia
Saint Grwst the Confessor (also known as Gwrwst, Gwrst, Gorwst or Gorst ap Gwaith Hengaer) was a 6th and 7th century saint
operating in the Welsh
Kingdom of Gwynedd
.
, thought to be centred on modern day Cumbria
, and Euronwy ferch Clydno Eiddin
, a Princess of Din Eiddin (Edinburgh
) in Lothian
, making him the great-grandson of King Urien Rheged.
to set up their individual cells across his kingdom, where he earned the honoured title of Grwst yr Cyfaddefiadwr (Grwst the Confessor). He is said to have witnessed a grant by Maelgwn Gwynedd to St Kentigern, where his signature "Sanctus Gwrwst" lies alongside those of Saints Deiniol
and Trillo. However, these dates and events are a little at odds with the genealogies (Iolo Morganwg Welsh MSS. 529),Robert Williams. Enwogion Cymru: A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen W. Rees 1852 which would put Grwst's generation in the early 7th century, in the c.600s to 630s.
, with the nearby Cae Llan housing estate the location of the first church dedicated to him by the 11th century. An annual fair was held on these grounds during the 16th century to celebrate the saint’s feast day, with the area known as Gwgrwstw after him.
He was the reputed founder of Llanrwst
and his festival, known as Gwyl Rwst, is held on 1 December.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
operating in the Welsh
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...
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
.
Family
Grwst was the son of Gwaith Hengaer ap Elffin, a Prince of RhegedRheged
Rheged is described in poetic sources as one of the kingdoms of the Hen Ogledd , the Brythonic-speaking region of what is now northern England and southern Scotland, during the Early Middle Ages...
, thought to be centred on modern day Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, and Euronwy ferch Clydno Eiddin
Clydno Eiddin
Clydno Eiddin was a ruler in the Hen Ogledd, the Brythonic-speaking area in what is now Northern England and southern Scotland during the Early Middle Ages. "Eiddyn" is the Brythonic name for Edinburgh, implying a connection to that territory....
, a Princess of Din Eiddin (Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
) in Lothian
Lothian
Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....
, making him the great-grandson of King Urien Rheged.
Hagiographic life
He may have arrived in Wales in the c.540s at the instigation of King Maelgwn Gwynedd, who granted charters for Christian missionaries, like Grwst, Kentigern and TrilloTrillo
Trillo may refer to:* Trillo, an Italian word used on sheet music for Trill , a musical ornament* Trillo, a threshing-board used in some Spanish-speaking countries*Trillo , town in Spain with nearby Trillo Nuclear Power Plant...
to set up their individual cells across his kingdom, where he earned the honoured title of Grwst yr Cyfaddefiadwr (Grwst the Confessor). He is said to have witnessed a grant by Maelgwn Gwynedd to St Kentigern, where his signature "Sanctus Gwrwst" lies alongside those of Saints Deiniol
Deiniol
Saint Deiniol was the first Bishop of Bangor in the Kingdom of Gwynedd, Wales. He is also venerated in Brittany as Saint Denoual. In English, the name is translated as Daniel but this is rarely used....
and Trillo. However, these dates and events are a little at odds with the genealogies (Iolo Morganwg Welsh MSS. 529),Robert Williams. Enwogion Cymru: A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen W. Rees 1852 which would put Grwst's generation in the early 7th century, in the c.600s to 630s.
Veneration
The site of Grwst’s original cell or Llan is now occupied by the Seion Methodist ChapelChapel
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,...
, with the nearby Cae Llan housing estate the location of the first church dedicated to him by the 11th century. An annual fair was held on these grounds during the 16th century to celebrate the saint’s feast day, with the area known as Gwgrwstw after him.
He was the reputed founder 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....
and his festival, known as Gwyl Rwst, is held on 1 December.