Church of St. Brynach

St. Brynach's background is shrowded in mystery. He is sometimes said to have been the son of a King of Calabria (in Italy), although this is unlikely. He was probably from Ireland since 'Bernach' is an Irish name and he is occasionally referred to as Brynach Wyddel (the Irishman). As a young man, he made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he defeated a ferocious serpent. Upon his return journey, he settled in Brittany, where he made efforts to evangelise the local population. He eventually moved on to Wales, floating on a stone (probably his portable altar) and landing at Milford Haven. He first travelled north-east to Llanboidy (Carmarthenshire) where he was denied lodgings by the locals and slept in a cow-shed. At Cilymaellwyd he recived the same treatment and was forced to shelter under a grey stone. Eventually he built himself a small hermitage at Llanfyrnach in Pembrokeshire. However, there he was the victim of a vicious spear attack by a woman whose advances he had rejected. Fortunately he was rescued by a passer-by and washed his wounds in a nearby well, thenceforth known as the 'Fons Rubeus'. Read more...