KYFFIN, RICHARD, dean of Bangor (c. 1480-1502).

He was not connected with any branch of the better-known family of that name. It is very likely that he was the Richard ap John or Ris ap Ieuan ap Ris ap Gruffydd, rector of Gyffin in the diocese of Bangor, 'the son of unmarried parents,' who in 1470 received a papal dispensation, on account of his illegitimacy, for promotion to holy orders. As dean he appears to have been an active supporter of Henry Tudor during the years before Bosworth. The choir of the cathedral was rebuilt during his period of office, and one of the windows (with figures of SS. Dwynwen and Catherine) was donated by him. He held the rectory of Llanddwynwen, and was the founder of the cathedral chantry of S. Catherine near which (in the south transept) he was buried. An inscription in brass marked his resting-place, which was known until the 18th century as 'bedd y Deon Du' ('the grave of the Black Dean').

Author

• Professor Thomas Jones Pierce, (1905 - 1964)

Sources

• Browne Willis, A survey of the cathedral church of Bangor; and the edifices belonging to it … (1721), 17, 34, 124
• Calendar of entries in the Papal Registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland. Papal Letters, xii, 782

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734286

Published date: 1959

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