The Rectorial Benefice
of Llantwit Major

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The History of Saint Illtud

Preface

The Historical Illtud

The Unhistorical Illtud

Afterward

Patrick_Thomas

taken from the text of two lectures given in May 2000 by
Reverend Canon Dr Patrick Thomas

The Unhistorical St Illtud

My first lecture was based largely on material from the ‘Life of St Samson’, which you will remember was produced in the early seventh century by a Breton monk who combined a fairly vivid imagination with a commendable enthusiasm for historical research. This second talk will be based largely, though not exclusively, on the writings of the twelfth century biographer of St Illtud. He was a Norman and was one of the clerics of the collegiate church of Llantwit Major which had replaced Illtud’s ancient monastery after the Norman conquest of Glamorgan.

If most people in Wales were asked to name the most influential Welsh writer of all time those who were Welsh-speaking would probably mention Dafydd ap Gwilym or Bishop William Morgan and those who were not Welsh-speaking might well say Dylan Thomas. In my opinion they would all be wrong. The one Welsh writer who has had a major and quite remarkable influence on the culture not just of Wales and England but of most of Europe lived in the twelfth century. His name was Geoffrey of Monmouth, at least one of his parents may have been of Breton origin and he wrote in Latin. His most famous book was ‘The History of the Kings of Britain’, starting from the occupation of the Island of Albion by the Trojan Brutus and ending with the death of King Cadwallader and the crowning of the Saxon Adelstan, and taking in such figures as King Leir, Vortigern, Merlin and Arthur along the way. ..............(Contact the Parish Office 01446 795551 to obtain a copy of the full lecture)

The Rectorial Benefice of Llantwit Major

The History of Saint Illtud

The Rectorial Benefice
of Llantwit Major