Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
I am lucky to live within an hour's driving distance from the beautiful countryside of Powys, Wales, where the church of St Melangell's stands . I have long been drawn to the endearing legend behind her, because of my love of the mystical hare., and visited the church and Melangell's shrine before the pandemic.Pilgrims from all over the world visit this spiritual and sacred site. The story is below, followed by my lyrics.
Original art by Ali H 'Melangell And The Hare' My Facebook art site is found at facebook.com/Art-by-Ali-H-109217204274248
I would love to invite you to see some of my pagan/Celtic art work there, and welcome any support.
The story of St Melangall (Pronounced'Melangeth') Patron Saint Of Hares.
Melangell was a sixth century Irish girl, who on wanting to become a nun, ran away from her homeland, when her father, a king, arranged a marriage for her to a man she did not know, nor love. She fled to Powys, Wales
. It is said that whilst out hunting hares with his hounds, the Prince of Powys, witnessed a remarkable sight of a hare rushing towards Melangell who was sat in his land. The hare hid under her skirts, where she kept it safe.The prince was so taken by her beauty, kindness and gentle nature, that he called off the hunt and gave her all his land, where the church stands today.. Melangell remained a virgin all her life and became an abbess of the county, living to be very old. She was buried in 595 AD, with hares bones, and her shrine is inside the church and people visit from all over the world. The Orthodox church is filled with all kinds of ornaments of hares, and the grounds have some of the oldest yew trees in Wales, one of which, has been dated back to two thousand years old. As old as Christianity itself. To this day, hares are revered in the area, and they are not hunted.
LYRICS
A fair young maid from Ireland, who swore never not to wed
Fled from her father's tying hands, and the marriage he had set
She ventured far across the sea, the love for no man she
And settled in the valley's of Wales
Where her fate would be
For many a year she graced the land
In pensive, Godly prayer
Until one day, where the wild flower's grew she encountered with a hare
Oh Melangell!, oh Melangell!
You did not need a care, for your life was a blessed that day
On a meeting with a hare.
The Prince of Powys and royal men
Ona a hare hunt did decide,
To pursue the creatures where Melangell prayed,
Twas not a pretty sight
the horseman raced and the hounds did chase
And a fearful hare did stray
But he set his eyes on Melangell and ran by her way
The hare skipped under her cloak and gowns, where she vowed the hare be safe
And the Prince of Powys witnessed this, and Melangell's saintly face
On seeing such a kindness, the prince he did declare, that never again would man nor hound, hunt a soulful , frightened hare.
Oh Melangell!, oh Melangell!
You did not need a care, for your life was a blessed that day
On a meeting with a hare.
And the prince was so a taken, with Melangell's gentle hands
That he bestowed upon her, much of his vast, wide land.
She lived a life, long and pure, and helped many in her days
And you'd always see a hare about, when Melangell passed her way
Ali Hammond Original 2021
I am lucky to live within an hour's driving distance from the beautiful countryside of Powys, Wales, where the church of St Melangell's stands . I have long been drawn to the endearing legend behind her, because of my love of the mystical hare., and visited the church and Melangell's shrine before the pandemic.Pilgrims from all over the world visit this spiritual and sacred site. The story is below, followed by my lyrics.
Original art by Ali H 'Melangell And The Hare' My Facebook art site is found at facebook.com/Art-by-Ali-H-109217204274248
I would love to invite you to see some of my pagan/Celtic art work there, and welcome any support.
The story of St Melangall (Pronounced'Melangeth') Patron Saint Of Hares.
Melangell was a sixth century Irish girl, who on wanting to become a nun, ran away from her homeland, when her father, a king, arranged a marriage for her to a man she did not know, nor love. She fled to Powys, Wales
. It is said that whilst out hunting hares with his hounds, the Prince of Powys, witnessed a remarkable sight of a hare rushing towards Melangell who was sat in his land. The hare hid under her skirts, where she kept it safe.The prince was so taken by her beauty, kindness and gentle nature, that he called off the hunt and gave her all his land, where the church stands today.. Melangell remained a virgin all her life and became an abbess of the county, living to be very old. She was buried in 595 AD, with hares bones, and her shrine is inside the church and people visit from all over the world. The Orthodox church is filled with all kinds of ornaments of hares, and the grounds have some of the oldest yew trees in Wales, one of which, has been dated back to two thousand years old. As old as Christianity itself. To this day, hares are revered in the area, and they are not hunted.
LYRICS
A fair young maid from Ireland, who swore never not to wed
Fled from her father's tying hands, and the marriage he had set
She ventured far across the sea, the love for no man she
And settled in the valley's of Wales
Where her fate would be
For many a year she graced the land
In pensive, Godly prayer
Until one day, where the wild flower's grew she encountered with a hare
Oh Melangell!, oh Melangell!
You did not need a care, for your life was a blessed that day
On a meeting with a hare.
The Prince of Powys and royal men
Ona a hare hunt did decide,
To pursue the creatures where Melangell prayed,
Twas not a pretty sight
the horseman raced and the hounds did chase
And a fearful hare did stray
But he set his eyes on Melangell and ran by her way
The hare skipped under her cloak and gowns, where she vowed the hare be safe
And the Prince of Powys witnessed this, and Melangell's saintly face
On seeing such a kindness, the prince he did declare, that never again would man nor hound, hunt a soulful , frightened hare.
Oh Melangell!, oh Melangell!
You did not need a care, for your life was a blessed that day
On a meeting with a hare.
And the prince was so a taken, with Melangell's gentle hands
That he bestowed upon her, much of his vast, wide land.
She lived a life, long and pure, and helped many in her days
And you'd always see a hare about, when Melangell passed her way
Ali Hammond Original 2021
