It is the feast of Melangell, the 6th century saint of Wales. After a hare was saved from the hunt by hiding under her dress, the hunter-prince gave her the land they were on for a hermitage, and it became a refuge for all hares in the region. Her shrine in the beautiful church of Pennant Melangell (above), deep in the Welsh countryside, was for many centuries a place of pilgrimage, but was demolished during the Reformation. However, its stones, together with the remains of Melangell herself, were rediscovered and the shrine was rebuilt in 1989.
It is the birthday of two villains (or rather, actors who played them): Vincent Price and Christopher Lee, born today in 1911 and 1922. Both actors played the Devil in different films, and were famous for their horror film roles, playing world-class baddies such as Dracula, Mephistoles, Death, Saruman and King Herod. Cue creaking coffin lid and hideous laughter.
Georges Roualt, the French painter, was born in a cellar, today in 1871, after his mother had to be evacuated when the family home was shelled in the final days of the Paris Commune. Roualt converted to Catholicism in his early 20s, and his artistic vision, which focused on loneliness and suffering, was influenced by seeing a circus clown of ‘infinite sadness’ mending his sparkling costume. He went on to paint clowns, jugglers, dancers and prostitutes – and also the face and the passion of Christ.
The composer Niccolò Paganini died today in 1840. He was maybe the first musical superstar, and the incredible speed and virtuosity of his violin playing led to colourful stories that he had sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for these supernatural gifts. In his final illness, a parish priest who offered to give Paganini the last rites was sent away as the violinist thought it was too soon. Because of this, as well as the Devil legend, the Church refused him a Catholic burial. His body was only laid to rest in its present tomb in 1896.
John Calvin died today in 1564. He was more influential than anyone – with the possible exception of Martin Luther – on the way Protestantism turned out. Whereas Luther did his theology on the hoof, Calvin hammered it into a vast system with all the Ts crossed and the Is dotted, and an impressive number of Js, too.
Photo: The National Churches Trust