 |
| St. Brides |
 |
| View showing ancient crosses |
St Brides (Welsh: Sain Ffraid) is a parish and small coastal village in Pembrokeshire, at the south of St Brides Bay, about one and a half miles (2.4 km) north of the larger village of Marloes. The village is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and is on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
|
| St. Brides |
|
| View showing ancient crosses |
John's Homepage tells us that the Parish church is dedicated to St Bride and still contains mediaeval features.It was built in the 13th century and restored in 1856 [Source: Database of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (accessed 12 Jan 2016)]. It also tells us that an ancient fishermen's chapel once stood at the cliff edge and is said to have been swept away by the sea. St Bridget's has a long nave, chancel, north transept, tiny aisle north of the chancel, and south porch. The nave has a bellcote at each end, each with paired openings, lintels to the west and arched to the east. There arr traces of a lost south transept. There is a well-preserved rood stair, and the east door with slightly ogee moulded head. [Source: Buildings of Wales: Pembrokeshire, by Thomas Lloyd, Julian Orbach, and Robert Scourfield, Yale University Press, New Haven and London; 2004]
On the site of the Dyfed Archaeological Trust there is a detailed description of the fabric of the church, including its stained glass windows and a bibliography. It has some images of variable quality. The article notes that there is good evidence for the pre-conquest religious use of the site in its Celtic dedication; adjacent cist cemetery; possible vallum enclosure. St. Brides is synonymous with St. Bridgets.
There is debate over whether Brigid was a real person. There are few historical facts about her, and early accounts of her are said to be mainly anecdotes and miracle stories, some of which are deeply rooted in Irish pagan folklore. She has the same name and many of the same attributes as the Celtic goddess Brigid, and there are many supernatural events and folk customs associated with her. Like the saint, the goddess in Irish myth is associated with poetry, healing, protection, smithcraft, and domestic animals. Furthermore, the saint's feast day falls on the Gaelic traditional festival of Imbolc which marks the beginning of Spring Some scholars suggest that the saint is a Christianisation of the goddess; others that she was a real person to whom the attributes of the goddess were attached. The story is similar to the use of the word Easter, named after Ester, the Celtic goddess of Spring.
Wikipedia
John's Homepage
Dyfed Archaeological Trust
Brigid of Kildare
1.0 Strict 