Llanilltud - The Story of a Celtic Christian Community

Author: Philip Morris

ISBN: 9781784617530

Publication Date: 03 August 2020

Publisher: Y Lolfa, Tal-y-bont

Format: Paperback, 215x142 mm, 192 pages

Language: English

Probably Britain's oldest centre of learning and important across the whole of medieval western Europe, St Illtud's monastery and school at Llantwit Major, south Wales flourished from c.500 AD to the Reformation. This is the first detailed history of the Celtic Christian community there - one of the greatest untold stories in British history. 28 colour images, 6 maps and one plan.

The following has been provided by the Publisher:

Table of Contents:

Introduction

The parish has a saint’s name time cannot unfrock (R.S.Thomas)

Chapter 1 Llanilltud before St Illtud 2000 B.C.-490 A.D.

Neolithic and Iron Age - The ‘Celts’ – Hill forts – the Romans – Caermead Roman villa – Caerwent and the first Christians in south Wales – early episcopal oversight – Germanus and the Pelagian heresy – the tradition of monasticism

Chapter 2 The Life of St Illtud

Sources for the Life of St Illtud – the life of St Illtud

Chapter 3 Llanilltud in the 6th century

‘Celtic Christianity’ – the site of Llanilltud – the monastic school and its pupils – the ‘llan’ of Llanilltud – the appointment of the Abbot – the spirituality of the monastery – daily life – pilgrimage

Chapter 4 Llanilltud from 7th–11th century

The Welsh Church – Abbots of Llanilltud – Life at Llanilltud – Spirituality – The Vikings

Chapter 5 Llanilltud and the Norman Conquest

1066 and all that – Llanilltud and the Diocese of Llandaff – The building of St Illtud’s Church – The ‘Cult’ of St Illtud

Chapter 6 Llanilltud from the 13th century to the Reformation

The extension of St Illtud’s Church – ‘The College of Llantwit Major’ – The ‘Monastic buildings’ – The Raglan Chantry – The Reformation

Chapter 7 Keeping the memory of Llanilltud alive 17th–21st century

The Revd Dr David Nichols - John Wesley – Iolo Morganwg – Benjamin Heath Malkin - Archaeologia Cambrensis – Alfred Fryer – Restoration – The Galilee Chapel

Bibliography

Endnotes

Index

Author Biography:

Brought up in Cardiff, Philip Morris has had a long career in the Church in Wales and recently retired as the Archdeacon of Margam. He has lived in Llantwit Major for many years, and his interest in this topic goes back to his MPhil in early medieval spirituality.

Further Information:

It is difficult to believe that a scholarly and critical in-depth study of such an important site has not been attempted before. This book has now plugged that gap splendidly.

THE MOST REVD DR BARRY MORGAN,

ARCHBISHOP OF WALES 2003–2017

Not Oxford, not Cambridge, but Llantwit Major (Llanilltud Fawr in Welsh) is probably the site of Britain’s oldest centre of learning, having been founded in the late fifth century. Scholars of church history have called it ‘the Christian axis of the Celtic-speaking peoples’ and ‘the University of the Atlantic of the Celtic period’, and the monastic community there became significant in medieval western Europe in the sixth century.

For the first time, this book provides a history of St Illtud’s monastery and school. It focuses on the development of the early monastic community in the context of the Celtic Christian tradition, but also looks at developments on the site over the next 1,000 years until the Reformation, and at how the Celtic tradition and memory of the early Llanilltud community have been kept alive since then.

A scholarly and analytical study, yet written in an engaging and highly readable style.