Gollen

Saint Gollen (Collen, Colan) was a Welsh monk of the seventh century who gave his name to Llangollen in Denbighshire. He is commemorated on 21 May.

He is said to have served for some time abroad as a soldier. He then arrived at Llangollen by coracle and built a church beside the river. Since no other churches in Wales are dedicated to Collen, it is thought that he is the one honoured also at Colan in Cornwall and at Langolen in Brittany. Legendary Lives connect him with Wales, Rome and Glastonbury, but nothing is known for certain. According to the Life of Saint Collin he was the son of Gwynawc ap Caledawc. After travelling through many foreign lands he returned to Britain and became abbot of Glastonbury; with holy water he banished Gwyn ap Nudd, king of the Tylwyth Teg, and his retinue from Glastonbury Tor. He died on 22 May, probably in the early seventh century, and was buried in his chapel, for centuries known as the Old Church, to the west of the medieval church of Saint Collen in Llangollen.