Saint Dogmael (or Docmael, Dogfael, Dogmeel, Dogwel, Toel) was a 6th-century Welsh monk and preacher who is considered a saint. His feast day is 14 June.

Life

Dogmael (or Dogfael, Dogwel) was of the house of

Cunedda Cunedda ap Edern, also called Cunedda ''Wledig'' ( 5th century), was an important early Welsh leader, and the progenitor of the Royal dynasty of Gwynedd, one of the very oldest of western Europe. Name The name ''Cunedda'' (spelled ''Cunedag ...

, descended from the kings of Wales, and was the son of Ithel ap Ceredig ab Cunedda Wledig. His grandmother was Saint

Meleri Saint Meleri was a late 5th century Welsh saint and Queen of Ceredigion. Meleri was one of the 24 daughters of King Brychan Brycheiniog of Brycheiniog (now Brecknockshire) in Wales. She married King Ceredig of Ceredigion, one of the son of Cu ...

, daughter of Saint

Brychan Brychan Brycheiniog was a legendary 5th-century king of Brycheiniog (Brecknockshire, alternatively Breconshire) in Mid Wales. Life According to Celtic hagiography Brychan was born in Ireland, the son of a Prince Anlach, son of Coronac, and ...

. Dogmael became a monk, and seems to have concentrated his preaching in Pembrokeshire,Emanuel, Hywel. "Dogmael", ''Dictionary of Welsh Biography'', 1959
/ref> where there are a number of churches dedicated to him.

Legacy

The following of Dogfael is reflected in a number of churches in what is now north Pembrokeshire. Based on the locations of his churches, Dogmael's cult was centered to the south of the

River Teifi , name_etymology = , image = File:Llyn Teifi - geograph.org.uk - 41773.jpg , image_size = , image_caption = Llyn Teifi, the source of the Teifi , map = , map_size = , map_caption ...

in the

Dyfed Dyfed () is a preserved county in southwestern Wales. It is a mostly rural area with a coastline on the Irish Sea and the Bristol Channel. Between 1974 and 1996, Dyfed was also the name of the area's county council and the name remains in use ...

communities of Cemais and Pebidiog. St Dogmael's Abbey, now ruined, stands on a hillside above the Teifi. It was founded in 1120 by

Robert fitz Martin Robert fitz Martin ( 10?? – c. 1159) was a knight from Devon whose father, Martin de Turribus, was the first Norman Lord of Kemes, in what had previously been the Dyfed part of Deheubarth. Fitz Martin inherited the Lordship of Kemes from his f ...

and his wife Maud Peveril. It contains the traditional site of St Dogmael's grave. The village of

St Dogmaels St Dogmaels ( cy, Llandudoch) is a village, parish and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the estuary of the River Teifi, a mile downstream from the town of Cardigan in neighbouring Ceredigion. A little to the north of the village, fu ...

is on the south side of the Teifi, facing Cardigan; St Dogmaels is named in Welsh ''Llandudoch''. Other churches include Capel Degwel nearby, St Dogwell's near

Fishguard Fishguard ( cy, Abergwaun, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of 3,419 in 2011; the community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5,407. Modern Fishguard consists of two ...

and the

Church of St Dogfael, Meline The Church of St Dogfael, Meline, Pembrokeshire, Wales is a redundant church dating from the 19th century. A Grade II listed building, the church is now in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches. History and description The church is d ...

. Llanddogwel (Llanddygfael) in

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a Local government in Wales, principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strai ...

is also dedicated to the saint.

Butler's account

The hagiographer

Alban Butler Alban Butler (13 October 171015 May 1773) was an English Roman Catholic priest and hagiographer. Biography Alban Butler was born in 1710, at Appletree, Aston le Walls, Northamptonshire, the second son of Simon Butler, Esq. His father died whe ...

wrote in his ''Lives of the Primitive Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints'', under June 14,

Notes

Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dogmael, Saint Children of Brychan 6th-century deaths