St Dogfael (St Dogmael)

St Dogmael (or Dogfael) is believed to have lived in the sixth century, but almost nothing is known about him save that he is supposed to have been the son of Ithel ap Ceredig ap Cunedda Wledig. He would thus have been descended from the fifth-century British prince and founder of the royal family of Gwynedd. Dogmael was also reputed to have been a cousin of St David. Judging from churches bearing his name, St Dogmael's influence seems to have been mostly confined to the Preseli area, although there are also dedications to him in Anglesey and Brittany.

Even less is known of 'the ancient church of St Dogfael', but from the rich collection of early Christian stones which has survived at or near the site of the later abbey, and from references in the Welsh Chronicle of the Princes (Brut y Tywysogyon), it appears to have been an early monastery or clas church. During excavations of the Norman abbey, an early Christian stone was found under a wall of the chapter house, thus helping to substantiate the notion that the medieval abbey was built on or near the site of the ancient establishment. More recently, an archaeological ('geophysical') survey of the grounds has identified what appears to be a very early curving bank to the south of the claustral buildings. Such a bank may have defined part of the precinct of the early monastery.