Léhon - Abbaye Saint-Magloire

The abbey, dedicated to Saint Magloire of Dol, a Welsh monk who became Bishop of Dol-de-Bretagne and ended his life on the island of Sark (~575). The abbey was founded in the 9th century with a strong support of Nominoë, the legendary first Duke of Brittany. In 910, the Vikings raid the area and loot and destroy the monastery. The monks had left already. They transferred the relics of Saint-Magloire to Paris, where they founded a new Abbaye Saint-Magloire.

The monks returned to Léhon and started to rebuilt from 1008 on. The abbey flourished, but was dependent from the Abbaye de Marmoutier (Tours), what caused trouble with all bishops around. In 1767 the last six monks left. The crumbling buildings were sold after the French Revolution and the church now serves the parish.

When the monks returned to Léhon, the obviously brought back some of the Saint Magloire´s bones, that can now be seen in the "tresor".
Saint Magloire, born in Wales around 500, is one of the many "Breton Saints", particularly venerated in Brittany. Relics of these saints were important already in early times. Legend tells, that Nominoë, hunting in the area, met six welsh monks here. He promised to support them, if the could source the relics of a "Breton Saint".

Saint Magloire had died on the island of Sark, where - in his old age - he had founded a convent with about 60 monks. In a dark and cold night the monks from Léhon sailed over to the island of Sark and with Divine assistance they stole the relics of Saint Magloire - and sailed back. As soon as the relics were on the continent miracles happened - and Nominoë soon after "signed the first cheque".

A week later the monks in Conques got a congratulation postcard from Léhon, as they just had successfully stolen the relics of Sainte Foy. In those days "pious larceny" was very popular.