Mechell

Saint Mechell was the 6th century founder and first abbot of the clas (a type of early Welsh/Celtic monastery) of Llanfechell, on Anglesey in north-west Wales. St Mechell's day is celebrated on 15 November. It is claimed that he is buried in Llanfechell.

He was said to have been a Breton by birth. From the 14th century, he was identified with Saint Machudd, a Welshman and supposed Bishop of Caerwent who has been similarly confused with Saint Malo. Malo and Mechell both have 15 November as their feast day,[1][2]

A 17th-century manuscript, (Llanstephan MS. 125)[1] records a Welsh poem, "Cywydd i Fechell Sant". This describes St Mechell as the son of Echwys ab Gwyn Gohoew.[3] It goes on to claim many miracles from his life including raising a giant from the dead and converting him to Christianity, turning thieves to stone, and blinding and then curing the leader. This last act produced a gift of land in gratitude, to be demarked by the route of a released hare. The hare, under divine guidance, marked the full extent of what is now the parish of Llanfechell, Anglesey, on which he then founded the monastery.[1]

References
  1. Baring-Gould, S. & Fisher, John (1911), The Lives of the British Saints, Vol III p.433 us.archive.org
  2. Farmer, David Hugh (1992) The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Third edition. OUP. p.316
  3. Menter Mechell History Society. Church Archived 2012-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 30 April 2012


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