Canna

Saint Canna lived in the 6th century and was a mother of saints and later a nun in south Wales. Two Welsh churches bear her name. She is also venerated in Brittany.

According to the unreliable writings of Iolo Morganwg, a poet of the 19th century, she was a daughter of King Tewdwr Mawr of Armorica (modern Brittany) and Cornwall, mother of Crallo and Elian, and sister-⁠in-⁠law and cousin of Illtud. Married to Sadwrn, she is said to have gone with him and Saint Cadfan to Britain and founded two churches, one in Carmarthenshire and one on Anglesey. These details cannot be verified. It is certain that she was a nun at Llangan and that her face was carved on the cross of the church at Llangan (Glamorgan). Beside the church is the well Ffynnon Ganna, to which pilgrims came for centuries, believing its water to heal; the well no longer exists. Her name survives in Cardiff, in the districts of Treganna and Pontcanna. She is commemorated on 25 October. She is honored as a saint of the undivided Church.