Saint Nibble

Saint Nibble (or 'Nibblus Maximus' as he was formerly known) was the patriarch of the Caerphillian Clan. Saint Nibble himself was originally from Penbryn, however he came to Caerphilly as a child, and worked in the cheese making community for several years, under the dictatorship of Tom Cat. Nibblus was known amongst local mice as being a man of great faith, and it was this faith which compelled him to overthrow Tom Cat's dictatorship in 1573AD. His successful bid to overthrow Tom Cat's regime lead Nibblus to form a clan of all local mice, which would offer mutual support, protection and care amongst the mouse community.

The community was such a success that they became known as 'The Caerphillian Mice', who were renowned throughout Wales for their manufacture and export of fine cheeses. Sadly however, the delights of this was short lived for the Caerphillian community, when Tom Cat's family stole milk supplies from the mice and consequently instigated the Great Cheese Famine of 1595AD.

St. Nibble refused to see his mice face exploitation, poverty and oppression at the hands of the cats. Nibble decided instead, to lead the Caerphillian's away from their Welsh homeland in search of safety and cheese.

After many years of travelling, and with much guidance from God, the Caerphillian Mice finally arrived in Yorkshire. The journey had not been easy; they had endured endless battles with ferral cats, and the rough terrain had been difficult on the young, the old, and the frail... but at last they found a place which seemed quiet and peaceful enough to inhabit. With further searching, God lead Nibble to Hawes, (a place which is now famous for "Wensleydale Cheese") with the promise that cheese would be plentiful. Taking God's advice, the Caerphillian Mice settled just outside the town, forming the village of Ambert. (Ambert is not a place on human maps, but mice know it well!)

A year after Nibble brought our Caerphillian ancestors to Ambert, he died of the injuries he had received defending the Caerphillians, and became a saint and martyr to micefolk throughout the world. Micefolk recognised God's presence in sustaining Nibble for his very special mission  in which he supported, liberated and cared for generations of mice through his heroic actions.
Perhaps understandably, it took many years for Caerphillian Mice to heal relations with cat-folk... and we are still scared of them; but finally we have found ourselves safe enough to publically remember Saint Nibble, and in 2010 we were delighted to see the completion on our new church in Ambert. The church was commissioned on 30th November 2010, and Saint Nibble became our patron saint. We continue to draw upon his inspiration, and God's guidance in our daily life, knowing that our deliverence (being such tiny mice) is an almost incomprehensible miracle.