Welsh Journals

the probable age of its enormous yew to have pre-Christian associations (Evans 1988). The first place of worship is likely to have appeared there long before 1188, the traditional date of its foundation. Kitchin shows that by 1563 Bettws Newydd had become a chapel annexed to Llanarth; the Vicar of Llanarth at that time is the first priest recorded as officiating at Bettws Newydd. His many predecessors at the latter church are, as yet at least, unknown. So the clergy list for this parish is shorter than it should be. As if to compensate for such fragmentary records, a number of Gwent parishes have been much more thoroughly documented. Their clergy are known from well before the Reformation. List 1 presents the 20 earliest names. LIST 1 The First Clergy to be recorded in Gwent DATE NAME PARISH 1066-1089 Morbiu Llanmartin 1066-1089 Audi and Gulcet Llanwern 1069 Benedictus Bassaleg 1071 Iouan' Caerwent 1071 Edulf Llanddewi Rhydderch 1071 Elinui Llangwm 1071 Iouan' Mathern 1086 Abraham Chepstow 1146 Picot Newport, St. Woolos 1153 William Rumney 1234 Master Maurice Christchurch 1234 Master Richard Caerleon 1239 Tollasius Bishton 1239 Nicholas St. Brides Netherwent 1239 Deodatus Magor 1240 William Benet St. Pierre 1245 William de Clifford Skenfrith 1246 Eneas Machen 1250 Adam Llantilio Pertholey Possibly the same person.