Saint Cewydd was apre-congregational saint ofWales in the Early Middle Ages (6th century). He is known as the Welsh 'Rain Saint', likeMedard in France,Gildas in Brittany andSwithin in England. It would appear that a pre-Christian rain day might have been associated with a date in July, when, if it rained on that day, it was believed rain would continue for forty days.
Very little is known of his life due to the scarcity of records in theearly Dark Ages in Wales. He is known mainly fromchurches associated with him, which are onAnglesey (Wales),Lancaut inChepstow (Wales/England border),[1]Cusop (Wales/England border),Kewstoke (Somerset, England), Steynton in Rhos (Pembrokeshire, Wales),Aberedw (Radnorshire, Wales],[2] Disserth yn Elfael (Radnorshire, Wales), Llangewydd andLaleston (Bridgend, Wales),[3] Capel Cewy, Mynachlogddu (Pembrokeshire, Wales).[4]
Ecclesiastical records in theBook of Llandaff refer to areligious establishment oflann ceuid, probably atLancaut, which is likely to have been established by 625AD[5][6] and was recorded there by 703AD.[7]
Hisfeast day is 1 July, but South Wales tradition records 15 July as Dygwyl Cewydd – Feast of St Cewydd (originally 2 July before the Julian/Gregorian calendar change).
