St Melangell, Snowdonia, Wales

Pennant Melangell

The church of St Melangell

It is a treasure of a place, hidden at the head of a valley tucked round by mountains, fed by hill streams. The church is on the site of her hermitage where she was gifted land by a local prince. The legend goes that whilst out hunting hare he chased an animal into a thicket, only to find it hiding in the robes of a virginal woman who was praying. He was so impressed by her devotion and ability to protect the hare even from his hounds, that he gave her the land for her hermitage and prayer community.

She lived and died here praying. Her gravestone exists in the tiny chapel, and her shrine has been reinstated. The shrine is not something I really go along with, (as I’m not comfortable with praying to saints), so I just move into the tiny circular chapel to pray.

As I was praying and singing praises, and as there was no one around, I felt to lie prostrate on the stone cobbled floor. As I did, I started weeping and crying out to God. Melangel’s heart seem so aligned to mine and I long for similar women to pilgrimage through life with. There are not many modern day mystics. It is heartening to hear the story of one of the female Christians. They are usually forgotten.

I’m not even really sure what the tears are about except a deep, deep visceral longing which could only be expressed in spiritual tongues. My mind can’t quite comprehend the depth of emotion but I known it is linking my heart to the heart of Jesus and also releasing stress I didn’t know I have been carrying.