The story reminded me of these two very old stones in North Wales:
Two early Christian Inscribed Stones. The Anelog Stones at Aberdaron, Gwynedd, at SH.173264. In the chancel of St Hywyn's church, Aberdaron, at the southern tip of the Lleyn Peninsula, two 5th or 6th century stone slabs can be found.
They were discovered back in the 18th century at Capel Anelog, the site of a long lost Celtic monastery, on the eastern slope of Mynydd Anelog in the valley of the River Sant. This monastery was probably a dependancy of the much bigger monastery on Bardsey Island across the strait.
The two grave slab, from 500 AD, are inscribed with Latin messages. When translated they say 'Veracius the priest lies here' and 'Senacus the priest lies here with the multitude of brethren priests'. Their names are probably Romano-British. They were, apparently, priests from the monastery at Capel Anelog, 1 mile NW of the church. Today, a farm called Gors mark the site.
St Hywyn, son of King Gwyndaf Hen and cousin of St Cadfan, was the founder of Aberdaron church. He was second abbot of Bardsey Island, after St Cadfan, in the early 6th century. His feast day is celebrated on 6th January.
These two stones were found at Capel Anelog, a site on the eastern slope of Mynydd Anelog, a few miles north of Aberdaron. It may have been the original monastery of the community which was later established on Bardsey and Aberdaron. Both stones date from the early 6th century and look as if they were carved by the same sculptor.
Both record the graves of priests. One is inscribed VERACIUS / PBR / HIC / IACIT, or: Veracius the priest lies here. The letters PBR are an abbreviation for PRESBYTER, shortened by contraction. The other stone reads SENACUS / PSBR / HIC IACIT / CVM MULTITV/D(I)NEM / FRATRVM / PRESB(IT)E[R], or: Senacus the priest lies here with the multitude of the brethren, Priest.
Aberdaron had a monastic community linked to that on Bardsey, the centre of great pilgrimages. The fine 12th century west door and extension of the church in the early 16th century are evidence of the wealth these pilgrims brought.
