Saint Teilo (born c.500)

Reputed to be a cousin, friend and disciple of Saint David, Teilo was bishop of Llandaff, where his tomb is and also founded a church at Llandeilo Fawr, as well as Penally Abbey, near Tenby, his probable place of birth.

St. Teilo was a great- grandson of King Ceredig of Ceredigion and from a young age, he studied under St. Paulinus of Wales at Wincdi Lantquendi (Whitland), it was here he met and befriended Dewi (St David) and along with fellow students Aeddan and Ysfael, they travelled to Mynyw (St. Davids) where Dewi founded his famous abbey. They were at first however harassed by an Irish pirate named Bwya, but they killed his cattle, burnt his fortress to the ground and ousted him.

Teilo, Dewi and Padarn are said to have travelled to Rome, where they were consecrated as bishops by the Pope. Teilo then succeeded St Dyfrig as Bishop of Glywysing & Gwent and is thought to have the Bishop's Seat to Llandeilo Fawr. Then in 549 the great yellow plague swept through Wales, so Teilo took his surviving community through Devon and Cornwall to Brittany, where they were greeted by in Dol and from there they moved on to region of Cornouaille, which they saved from the ravages of a winged dragon and stayed for seven years before returning to Llandeilo Fawr. After the death of St. David, Teilo became known as one of the holiest men in Wales and he was joined at Llandeilo by many disciples: Teilo died at the Abbey of Llandeilo Fawr and it is thought Saint Euddogwy brought some of his relics to Llandaff cathedral some 200 years later.