Saint Endelienta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Endelienta
The Collegiate Church of St Endellion, patronal church of St Endelienta
Born	c. 470 AD South Wales
Died	unknown Cornwall
Venerated in	Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, Orthodoxy
Major shrine	St Endellion, Cornwall, England
Feast	29 April

Saint Endelienta (also known as Endelient or Endellion) was a Cornish saint who lived around the 5th and 6th centuries. People believe she was a daughter of the Welsh King Brychan. She came from South Wales and traveled to North Cornwall. Her goal was to help her brothers and sisters teach local people about Christianity.

Legend says that Saint Endelienta was a goddaughter of the famous King Arthur. She lived a simple life as a hermit in a place called Trentinney. There, she survived by drinking only the milk from a cow. Today, the church and village of St Endellion are named after her. Endellion is an English version of her name. Her special day, called a feast day, is celebrated on 29 April.

Who Was Saint Endelienta?

Her Family and Journey

Tradition tells us that Endelienta was a daughter of King Brychan. He ruled a kingdom called Brycheiniog in South Wales. The village of Saint Endellion in Cornwall is named after her. It is said that she taught the local people about Christianity from this area. Two old wells near the village were also named after her.

In Welsh records, she is called "Cenheidlon." The name Endelienta is a Latin version of this name. Her feast day is always on 29 April. Many believe she was born in South Wales. She then crossed the Bristol Channel by boat. She wanted to join her siblings in teaching Christianity in North Cornwall.

Her Life as a Hermit

During her journey, she first landed on Lundy. This is a small island where she may have built a small chapel. Later, this chapel was mistakenly rededicated to Saint Helen. After Lundy, she moved to the mainland. She stayed with her brother, Saint Nectan, in Hartland.

Eventually, she chose to live in Trentinney. This place is southwest of the modern village of St Endellion. She would sometimes return to Lundy Island. She went there for quiet time and meditation. She lived as a hermit in Trentinney. Legend says she lived only on cow's milk and water from two nearby wells.

Her sister, Saint Dilic, lived close by. Saint Dilic's church is in Landulph. The two sisters would often meet on a certain path. People say the grass on this path always grew greener than anywhere else.

King Arthur and the Cow

One day, the Lord of Trentinney killed Endelienta's cow. He did this because the cow had wandered onto his land. In return, Endelienta's godfather, who was said to be King Arthur, became very angry. King Arthur sent his men to get revenge. They killed the Lord of Trentinney.

However, Saint Endelienta was sad that someone had been killed in her name. She used her powers to bring the nobleman back to life.

Her Final Resting Place

Before her death, Saint Endelienta had a vision. She asked that when she died, her body should be placed on a sledge or cart. This cart would be pulled by bullocks. She wanted to be buried wherever the bullocks stopped.

She is thought to have died on 29 April, possibly in the 6th century. Some stories say she was killed by Saxon pirates. She was buried at the top of a hill. A church was built over her grave. The current church in St Endellion stands on that very spot today.

Saint Endelienta's Legacy

Her Shrine and Pilgrimage

A small chapel dedicated to Saint Endelienta existed at her hermitage in Trentinney. It remained there until the 16th century. Her main shrine was at the Church of St Endellion. This church was a popular place for pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages.

During the Reformation, much of her shrine was destroyed. However, the base of it still survives today. Visitors can still see it.

Music and Modern Connections

The St Endellion Music Festivals are held every year. They take place at Easter and in the Summer. These festivals are held in the St Endellion church.

In 2005, a local artist was asked to create an icon of Saint Endelienta. An icon is a special religious painting. This was a challenge because there were no known pictures of her to use as a guide.

In 2010, something interesting happened. The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and his wife Samantha had a new baby daughter. They named her Florence Rose Endellion. They chose the name Endellion because she was born while the Cameron family was on holiday in Cornwall, near the village of St Endellion.