There were several workshops at various important monasteries in Wales. One of
them was at Glamorgan. The workshop at Glamorgan produced Celtic Crosses, known
as the "paneled" or "cartwheel" slab, which were made from the late 9th century
until the 11th century. The Coychurch Cross employs two separate styles of
Celtic design, the wheel cross and knotwork. The head of the cross in the form
of the wheel cross originated not from the crucifixion-cross but from the
Chi-Rho monogram representing Christ. The letter X (Chi) and P (Rho), the first
two letters of Christ in Greek, were one over the other. After centuries this
symbol came to be enclosed in a circle. The interlacing which fills the shaft is
endless, and thus cannot be untied. It represents everlasting life, the Alpha
and Omega, beginning and end in an eternal circle.
