Madron (saint)

Saint Madron was a Pre-Congregational Saint, monk and hermit.^[1] He is honoured in Wales and Brittany, and in Cornwall at Madron Parish Church in the village of Madron. He also has a Holy well, noted for its healing powers.^[2][3]

Madron was born in Cornwall and was a disciple of Saint Ciarán of Saigir. Very little is known of him except that many miracles were attributed to him.^[4] He died c.545 AD near Land’s End, Cornwall, and is remembered in Madron Parish Church (Madron Village) and his Feast Day is 17 May.

Identification

John T. Koch ^[5] has suggested that the saint was not a historical figure but rather a Christianisation of the Mythical Celtic Modron the mother goddess. Indeed some aspects of the veneration at Madron's well do appear to derive from Pagan origins.

Others ^[6][7] have suggested that the saint's life is a retelling of the story of St. Madrun, a daughter of Vortimer, a king of Gwent.

Gallery

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  The baptistry near Madron Well

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  Basin in the south-west corner of the baptistry

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  Altar at the eastern end of the baptistry

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  A wayside cross, Boswarthen (near Madron Well)

Notes

References

• Marged Haycock (2007). Legendary poems from the Book of Taliesin. CMCS. ISBN 978-0-9527478-9-5. 
• William John Gruffydd (1953). Rhiannon: An Inquiry Into the Origin of the First and Third Branches of the Mabinogi. University of Wales Press. 
• John T. Koch (2006). Celtic culture: a historical encyclopedia. Vol. 1-. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-85109-440-0. 
• "St. Madron of Cornwall, Hermit". Celtic and Old English Saints. Retrieved 2014-07-25. 
• Saint Augustine's Abbey (RAMSGATE) (1931). The Book of Saints. A Dictionary ... Compiled by the Benedictine Monks of St. Augustine's Abbey, Etc. A. & C. Black. 
• Alban Butler (1866). The lives of the fathers, martyrs, and other principal saints. J. Duffy. 
• "Saint Madron of Cornwall". Saints.SQPN.com. Retrieved 2014-07-25.