St. Collen was a British hermit who lived in the 7th century. His grandfather had been a warrior at the Court of King Arthur. The oldest existing version of Collen's life-story was written down in the 16th century. There may have been earlier ones. A lot of it seems to be just a story. What do you think? Collen came from Southampton (in Hampshire). He went to school in Gaul (France). A pagan warlord challenged the Pope (the leader of the Christians) to single combat. Collen fought him instead and won. The Pope was very pleased. Collen became the Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey (in Somerset), but he didn't like the local people there. So he lived as a hermit near Glastonbury Tor instead. On top of the Tor, he met the Celtic Pagan God of the 'Otherworld' who was King of the Fairies. He splashed holy water on them and they disappeared. Collen then moved his hermitage to North Wales. He fought a giantess and cut off her arms. Then he settled down in Llangollen. Collen certainly lived at Llangollen. The place is named after him. He was buried in a small chapel near the church there. Activity Sheet available.