Talk:Llanddeiniolen

St Deiniol or St Deiniolen
Currently the text states that the parish name Llanddeiniolen derives from the Welsh saint Deiniol (died 584). The wikipedia article on Saint Deiniol states that he died 572 or 584 and explains the reason for the disparate dates.

This St Deiniol is relatively well established. He is in the calendar of saints of the Church in Wales and the Orthodox church. Founding abbot of the abbeys at Bangor Fawr and Bango Iscoed, and first Bishop of Bangor. He attended the Synod of Brefi about 545. Bangor cathedral is dedicated to this St Deiniol..

But it seems that there is a view that the origin of the parish name Llanddeiniolen derives not from this St Deiniol, but from his son, who was named 'St Deiniol Fab' or 'St Deiniolen'.

See for example

Coflein's page on the Church of St Deiniolen, Llanddeiniolen

Both the parish church at Llanddeiniolen and that at Llanddaniel Fab in Anglesey are said to be dedicated to the son of St Deiniol, abbot and bishop of Bangor,.

For Llanddaniel Fab see the Wikipedia article on St Deiniol's Church, Llanddaniel Fab. - "The first church in this location is said to have been established by St Deiniol Fab (to whom the church is dedicated) in 616. He was the son of St Deiniol, the first Bishop of Bangor."

For both Llanddeiniolen and Llanddaniel Fab see the entry on St Deiniolen Fab on David Nash Ford's Early British Kingdoms website at

"St. Deiniolen Fab / (Born c.AD 560) / (Welsh: Deiniolen; Latin: Dainiolinus; English: Daniel) - / Deiniolen the Son entered the Church after having been raised from the dead by St. Beuno after he had accidentally drowned. He founded monasteries at Llandanielfab on Ynys Mon (Anglesey) and Llandeiniolen near Bangor Fawr. Since the 18th century, he has been identified as the son of Prince Deiniol Gwyn (the Blessed) of the Northern Pennines, who was also the founding Bishop of Bangor Fawr, where Deiniolen succeeded him. / Records of St. Deiniolen date back to the 14th century. He may well be historic.".

The same view is taken in the section on Llanddeiniolen in A Topographical Dictionary of Wales. Originally published by S Lewis, London, 1849.. This states "The church is dedicated to St. Deiniolen, said to have been the son of Deiniol who founded a college at Bangor, and to have flourished early in the seventh century:"  (This is online at the British History Online site, at   )

I think that the Welsh scholar W. J. Gruffydd (who was brought up in Llanddeiniolen parish) also championed the 'St Deiniolen' view but I have not yet found the relevant passage.

Should we make at least a reference to the alternative view ? Gwedi elwch (talk) 07:44, 8 March 2024 (UTC)