Marchell

Saint Marchell (Marcella) was a Welsh holy woman, usually called Marchell of Eglwys Wen ("the White Church"). The genealogies of the Bonedd y Saint place her in the 7th century, as a daughter of Tydanwedd ap Amlawdd Wledig and of Saint Tangwystl (Hawystl Gloff), one of the twenty-⁠four daughters of Brychan. She had four brothers: Teyrnog, Deifr, Tyfrydog and Tudur.

She grew up with her brothers in the community at Bangor-⁠is-⁠y-⁠coed. When the Saxons attacked the monastery, in 604, the family managed to escape to the Vale of Clwyd. There she founded Llanfarchell (locally, "Eglwys Wen") at Denbigh, near the churches of her brothers, Teyrnog at Llandyrnog and Deifr at Bodfari. She founded a church of the same name at Llanrwst, and the church of Marchwiel near Wrexham is dedicated to her. In the church of Llandyrnog a 15th-⁠century stained glass window survives showing Marchell with her brother Teyrnog, Saint Winefride, Saint Frideswide and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Her day is 5 September, by the Western calendar (new style). She is not to be confused with her great-⁠grandmother Marchell of Talgarth, or her granddaughter Marchell of Ystrad Marchell. She is honored as a saint of the undivided Church.