Llanilltud

The story of a Celtic Christian Community

Philip Morris

Probably Britain's oldest centre of learning and important across the whole of medieval western Europe, St Illtud's monastery and school at Llantwit Major, south Wales flourished from c.500 AD to the Reformation. This is the first detailed history of the Celtic Christian community there - one of the greatest untold stories in British history.

ISBN: 9781784617530

Price: £9.99

Department: History, Welsh History, Local History, Leisure, Celtic

Format: Paperback

Language: English

No. of pages: 192

More information

Reviews

It is difficult to believe that a scholarly and critical in-depth study of such an important site has not been attempted before. This book has now plugged that gap splendidly. - The Most Revd Dr Barry Morry

Archdeacon Morris has given us a fine account of the history and spirituality of this unique community
from earliest times to the present day. He ends with the hope that it will one day be recognised as the
equal of Iona and Lindisfarne. With an equivalent programme of excavation and research that aim might
well be possible. - Jeremy Knight, Archaeologia Cambrensis

In this absorbing biography of place, Philip Morris traces the establishment and development of the community of Llanilltud Fawr from the early Celtic times... Morris is particularly good at setting his research within the tides of history swirling around the centre of learning, while imparting a sense that the monastery at Llanilltud was part of a wider European society. - Lewis Davies, Planet Magazine

Table of Contents

Introduction
The parish has a saint's name time cannot unfrock (R.S.Thomas)

Chapter 1 Llanilltud before St Illtud 2000 B.C.-490 A.D.
Neolithic and Iron Age - The 'Celts' – Hill forts – the Romans – Caermead Roman villa – Caerwent and the first Christians in south Wales – early episcopal oversight – Germanus and the Pelagian heresy – the tradition of monasticism

Chapter 2 The Life of St Illtud
Sources for the Life of St Illtud – the life of St Illtud

Chapter 3 Llanilltud in the 6th century
'Celtic Christianity' – the site of Llanilltud – the monastic school and its pupils – the 'llan' of Llanilltud – the appointment of the Abbot – the spirituality of the monastery – daily life – pilgrimage

Chapter 4 Llanilltud from 7th–11th century
The Welsh Church – Abbots of Llanilltud – Life at Llanilltud – Spirituality – The Vikings

Chapter 5 Llanilltud and the Norman Conquest
1066 and all that – Llanilltud and the Diocese of Llandaff – The building of St Illtud's Church – The 'Cult' of St Illtud

Chapter 6 Llanilltud from the 13th century to the Reformation
The extension of St Illtud's Church – 'The College of Llantwit Major' – The 'Monastic buildings' – The Raglan Chantry – The Reformation

Chapter 7 Keeping the memory of Llanilltud alive 17th–21st century
The Revd Dr David Nichols - John Wesley – Iolo Morganwg – Benjamin Heath Malkin - Archaeologia Cambrensis – Alfred Fryer – Restoration – The Galilee Chapel

Bibliography

Endnotes

Index

Blurb

Not Oxford, not Cambridge, but Llantwit Major (Llanilltud Fawr in Welsh) is considered the site of Britain's oldest centre of learning, founded in the late fifth century. Scholars of Church history have called the early monastic community there 'the Christian axis of the Celtic-speaking peoples' and 'the University of the Atlantic of the Celtic period'.
This engaging and highly readable book provides the first in-depth story of St Illtud's monastery and school. The main focus is on its early development in the context of the Celtic Christian tradition, but the author also looks at developments on the site over the next 1,000 years until the Reformation, and at how the Celtic tradition and memory of the early Llanilltud community have been kept alive since then.