Welsh Journals

The alleged synod of Llanddewi Brefi is one of the better known events in the history of the pre-Norman Welsh church. However, no direct study of the synod, in its own right, seems to have been published. It has, instead, been included as part of the overall treatment of the life of Saint David. It is thought, therefore, that some consideration of the background and the sources concerning the synod may be of interest, and contribute to the resolution of the uncertainty regarding its very existence. The primary source is the Life of Saint David, written by Rhigyfarch, eldest son of Sulien, Bishop of St Davids. The dates both of his work, and of the surviving manuscripts, are the subjects of considerable discussion. The second source, which is of considerable importance because it is generally agreed to be independent of the first, is the Life of Saint Cadoc, by Lifris, a monk of Llancarfan. The date of composition of this is bound up in the controversy concerning the date of Rhigyfarch's work. There seems to be little doubt that the two Lives were written within a few years of each other in the final quarter of the 11th century. The point at issue concerns the order of composition. On the one hand are A W Wade- Evansl and D Simon Evans,2 indicating dates suggesting that Rhigyfarch was the prior writer. On the other are followers of H D EmanueP such as J W James4 and E R Henken.5 The basis of Emanuel's thesis rests on the view that three chapters in the Life of Saint Cadoc, two of which contain the references to the Brefi synod, are later interpolations which would not have been present in Lifris's original text. They are, it is suggested, written in response to assertions made by Rhigyfarch in respect of David's sanctity and importance. To assess the validity of this thesis, is it useful to THE SYNOD OF LLANDDEWI BREFI Bryan J Holmes THE SOURCES