St. Deiniol (Daniel) of Bangor in Wales
St Deiniol (+ c.584) was said to be a descendant of Coel Godebog, a
Celtic chieftain of North Britain. He founded two monasteries at Bangor
Fawr (modern Bangor on the Menai Straits) and Bangor Iscoed (modern
Bangor-on-Dee). The monks at Bangor Iscoed totalled over 2000 before
they were routed in battle by the pagan King of Northumbria. According
to Bede, it had been the most famous monastery of British Christianity.
Regarded as the first Bishop of Bangor, St Deiniol was comparable in
status with St David and St Dyfrig. Several churches in North Wales are
dedicated to St Deiniol, which is perhaps why the great Liberal prime
minister W.E. Gladstone dedicated his famous library to him at Hawarden.
