Saint Tathyw


Saint Tathyw was a 5th-century saint of South Wales, and founder of a monastic school at Caerwent where he instructed many of the leading figures of the early Welsh church.

Identity

There is considerable controversy over the identity of Saint Tathyw.
King Caradog Freichfras of Gwent's main court was originally at Caer-Guent, but he gave the city to St. Tathyw, while the King let his horse lead him to a new home at Portskewett. Tathyw founded a monastery to the Holy Trinity at Caer-Guent. He lived there many years with his followers and when he died he was buried under the floor of his Abbey Church.
St. Tathyw's relics at Tewkesbury indicate that he was reinterred in a reverential shrine some time prior to 1235. His monastery may actually have been at Christchurch, eight miles east of Caerwent.

Legend

One story of Tathyw relates that King Gwynllyw of South Wales stole the cow of St. Tathyw. When the monk came to demand the cow’s return, the King surrendered his son Cadoc to the Saint’s care. As a young man, Cadoc received his habit
from St. Tathyw and returned to his native country to build a church at Llancarvan and a monastery and college.
It is also conjectured that he may have known King Arthur while at Caerwent.
Another story relates that as a child an angel appeared to Tathyw in a dream and suggested he might spread the Christian word in Wales.