The story of Melangell is that there was once a dastardly prince chasing after a hare in the Pennant valley. Perhaps sensing her saintly disposition, the hare hid under Melangell’s skirt, and his hunting hounds ran away howling, and when the prince tried to urge his hounds on by blowing his horn, it got stuck to his lips. So impressed was the prince that he gave the valley to Melangell to be her sacred refuge and she built a community there.

The shrine has all the bones intact of a woman from the sixth century, probably Melangell. A shrine like this is extremely rare, given the ravages of the Reformation which removed bone relics. The feeling of charged peace is palpable. One can touch her gravestone slab in the adjoining apse, a very grounding experience. The surrounding area is strongly beautiful with waterfalls and the Tanat valley.