AFAN
(
early 6th cent.
),
patron saint
.
He is described as the son of
Cedig ap Ceredig ap Cunedda Wledig
, and is associated, as ‘
Afan Buellt
,’ with the cantref of the name in
Mid Wales
. Here are two of his churches, viz.
Llanafan-fawr
and
Llanafan-fach
; the third is
Llanafan
in the
valley of the Ystwyth
. An inscription of
c.
1300
at
Llanafan-fawr
runs:
‘Hic iacet sanctus
Avanus Episcopus’
; from this it has been inferred that he
ruled over a diocese
hereabouts, but in his age the title indicated rank and not a sphere of authority. His day is
16 (or 17) Oct.
; and his name is derived from the
Latin
Amandus
.
Bibliography:
-
The Lives of the British Saints
, i, 114-5.
Author:
Sir John Edward Lloyd, D.Litt., F.B.A., F.S.A. (1861-1947), Bangor
