Saint Elli

[1] According to one legend, Elli or Ellyw was a daughter or granddaughter of King Brychan.

[2] Elli founded a church on the banks of the River Lliedi, which attracted peasants who settled nearby.

A different account is given in the 11th century Vita Cadoci (life of Cadoc), which says that Elli was the son of the Queen of the Islands of Grimbul, and the foster son of Saint Cadoc.

Cadoc took Elli to the clas (ecclesiastical settlement) at Llancarfan, where he was educated.

[3] The hagiographer Sabine Baring-Gould (1834–1924) argued that Llanelieu Church in Powys was dedicated to the female St Ellyw or Elyw, but doubts that she was related to Brychan.

The Church of St Elli in Llanelli , built in the 13th century.
A drawing of the St Elli window at Church of St Gabriel, Brynmill, Swansea