I don't know if anyone could possibly help with this query? Doble, G.H. (1928), St. Brioc (Cornish Saints): 44, mentions a place somewhere in Pembroke called "Llanfarchan", possibly connected with a saint by the name of Marcan; however, he gives no details of its whereabouts. Web searches have so far failed to unearth any sign of the elusive Llanfarchan. I suspect that it might have been no more than a hamlet, perhaps obliterated by modern development and/or renamed. I would much appreciate any assistance on this point. Jean Kelly
Hi Jean If you search google on Saint Marcan it comes up with over 16,000 hits, all probably relating to the same place in Brittany, France. I wonder if there is a clue in the fact that it is next to St Malo which is very near to *St Briac* on the north Brittany coast. (You refer to St Brioc as a Cornish saint). I'm also thinking of the Celtic link between Brittany, Cornwall and Wales. But I haven't been able to sort out a specific Pem connection. Gareth List administrator for DYFED, CGN & PEM Genuki Wales http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/ Lookup Exchange http://home.clara.net/tirbach/lookup.html Help Page http://home.clara.net/tirbach/hicks.html . ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean Kelly" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 8:21 PM Subject: [WLS-PEM] Llanfarchan I don't know if anyone could possibly help with this query? Doble, G.H. (1928), "St. Brioc" (Cornish Saints): 44, mentions a place somewhere in Pembroke called "Llanfarchan", possibly connected with a saint by the name of Marcan; however, he gives no details of its whereabouts. Web searches have so far failed to unearth any sign of the elusive Llanfarchan. I suspect that it might have been no more than a hamlet, perhaps obliterated by modern development and/or renamed. I would much appreciate any assistance on this point. Jean Kelly ==== WLS-PEMBROKESHIRE Mailing List ==== Dyfed FHS http://www.dyfedfhs.org.uk/
Jean Kelly <[email protected]> wrote: Doble, G.H. (1928), "St. Brioc" (Cornish Saints): 44, mentions a place somewhere in Pembroke called "Llanfarchan", possibly connected with a saint by the name of Marcan; however, he gives no details of its whereabouts. Web searches have so far failed to unearth any sign of the elusive Llanfarchan. I suspect that it might have been no more than a hamlet, perhaps obliterated by modern development and/or renamed. ============== Dear Jean, Breverton (2000) includes the following entry for St Marchan (on page 388): --------------- MARCHAN 6th century May 21 [saint's day] There was a pilgimage chapel called Llanmarchan in Pembroke for this saint, who had a vision of the dying Brioc being carried away by angels. --------------- [Source: "The Book of Welsh Saints" by T. D. Breverton, published 2000 by Glyndwr Publishing, Cowbridge, Glamorgan. ISBN 1-903529-01-8] Unfortunately Breverton does not state where in Pembrokeshire the chapel was (is?) situated. Kind regards, John ---------------------------- John Ball, Ystalyfera, South Wales, UK E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: http://home.clara.net/wfha/ Welsh Family History Archive: http://home.clara.net/wfha/wales/ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.593 / Virus Database: 376 - Release Date: 20/02/2004
I have failed to find reference to this particular saint in a multitude of sites dealing with Welsh saints but to add a little to what JB has found. The book 'Pembrokeshire' by Brian John has these general references in a chapter on Celtic saints; <Missionary activities probably began c 450 <network of religious cells...............small churches established in remote locailities, particularly common in Pembrokeshire. <seldom became nuclei for later settlements <small churches with Celtic dedications can still be seen around the wild rocky coastline, standing against the elements in splendid isolation <Typical of coastal chapels of this time were those at St Justinian's, St Non's, Cwm-yr-Egwlys and St Dogmael's. Many have disappeared, others stand in ruins or have been replaced by later buildings. None of which helps with Llanfarchan unfortunately ! I've suggested Jean ask Pem Archives. Gareth List administrator for DYFED, CGN & PEM Genuki Wales http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/ Lookup Exchange http://home.clara.net/tirbach/lookup.html Help Page http://home.clara.net/tirbach/hicks.html . ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ball" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 29, 2004 12:22 PM Subject: Re: [WLS-PEM] Llanfarchan > > > Breverton (2000) includes the following entry for St Marchan (on page 388): > --------------- > MARCHAN 6th century > May 21 [saint's day] > There was a pilgimage chapel called Llanmarchan in Pembroke for this saint, > who had a vision of the dying Brioc being carried away by angels. > --------------- >