Welsh Christian Priest

The Welsh had been ardent defenders of Christianity since the Fall of Rome, and as other pagan invaders arrived, they fought for their faith as much as for their land. Separated from Rome, Welsh Christianity took its own path. However, divergence from Roman Catholicism was regarded as a problem by the Pope. As the Normans started conquering and increasing their influence in Wales, they brought the independently minded Welsh church into line with the rest of Europe. Being on the ‘edge of the World’ meant that many invaders beset the Welsh church, and the nature of Welsh politics meant that it could be that friend became foe very easily. Welsh monks made sure that Christianity thrived against these odds, and their resilience and devotion to the faith should not be underestimated.