There are three saints to be discovered on the hilltop of Llantrisant. Here, there has been a settlement since before the sixth century, described by the the poet Aneurin as the ‘the white houses of Glamorgan.’
The church and town share a triptych of saints. Illtud, and his two followers, Gwynno and Tyfodgwg. Each branched out to their own Llans. Illtud, emerging from his great monastery at Llaniltud Fawr (Llantwit Major) cut the ground at Llantwit Farde. Tyfodwg went west to the Ogwr Valley, and Gwynno grounded himself further north in the woods we know as Llanwonno. St Illtud has more than a dozen dedications across the churches of Wales, mostly in the south, the most significant being Llantwit Major where his monastery homed over 2,000 students.
Often thought to hail from Brittany, it’s considered by some that Illtud was actually born amongst the hills of Brycheiniog (Brecon) which is where he was likely buried after his death (on November 6th). Once a military man, he was renowned for his learning in Holy Scripture and many other disciplines. Among so many of his pupils were the likes of Samson and Dewi. Their light still shines.
Hwyl
The light of three saints
shine here,
here,
at this hilltop Llan.
The busy world beneath
begins to carry on.
Cars cross carriageways,
spill their way towards
the full stops of the M4,
or queue for a while
and wait
for lights to change.
Red.
Amber.
Green.
Watch them wind their way
to a white-lined space,
and, then,
the slippery stores
suck them in.
Here,
these three saints
parted ways,
took their compass routes.
Uprooted lives.
Led by Love.
They saw God’s miracles
marked out in mud.
Their lives wattled
and woven with prayer.
Branches, twigs, dead and dying leaves,
sycamore, oak,
chestnut, birch and blackthorn,
building a house of prayer,
a ‘bettws’ stripped from the trees,
each drop of sap a tear.
One for sorrow,
two for joy.
Illtud.
Gwynno.
Euddogwy.
Bible Reading
From Genesis 13:14-18
The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.
Prayer
Lord God,
as I sit or stand
upon this Lann
blessed by three saints,
so I pray for all who go out
to speak your word,
and share the message of your love,
which has been whispered in this place
from one person to another.
Wherever I wander,
wherever I am,
may I carry your peace to others,
and be an echo of your love
in a brash and busy world.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Stay Awhile
Stay awhile, be still, and be at peace,
here on the hill
above the busyness beneath.
The town here
has a life of its own.
Listen to its life,
its beating heart,
its sounds and signs,
its rhythm.
Let God's light
and love
break in.
Be still here,
and be at peace.
Pray for
Pray for all who live in Llantrisant,
and all who work here,
for the churches,
and their common witness.
Pray for friendship and understanding
between people of different church traditions.
Pray for those on the move,
for all seeking sanctuary and safety,
along difficult or dangerous routes.
Hwyl Fawr
May the saints of God pray for us.
May his holy angels watch over us.
And may God shed bud light upon us
and give us his blessing,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
St Illtud, pray for us.
St Gwynno, pray for us.
St Dyfodwg, pray for us.
All the Saints of God, pray for us.
LINKS & INFO
Website: You can discover more about the church and parish here www.parishofllantrisant.org.uk
OTHER RESOURCES
The Church in Wales provides a Collect for this Saint’s Feast:
Where next?
Plan your journey to the next part of the Llanscape of Wales using our Google Maps Trail:
South Cardiff Ministry Area 