St Davids Cathedral is certainly the pearl in the crown of the smallest town in the United Kingdom – St Davids. The history of this place of worship is remarkable and it’s worth exploring. This article will aim to retell the amazing story of St Davids Cathedral, as well as to give you tips on how and when to visit it.
The Sacred Beginnings
Before the majestic cathedral was erected in St Davids, there was a flourishing monastic community in the period following the end of the Roman rule of Britannia. The town itself was named after the Welsh bishop that founded this community – Saint David, who lived in Mynyw (now St Davids) in the 6th century. It’s theorised that he was the son of Saint Non and the grandson of Ceredig Ap Cunedda, king of Ceredigion (one of the Welsh kingdoms).
Saint David found a monastery on the grounds where the cathedral stands now, along with other monasteries in Britain. It is believed that he fought for an independent Welsh church, although he wasn’t exactly a rogue monk, on the contrary, he was elected a primate of the region and later (supposedly) – an archbishop.
Saint David is said to have performed miracles such as the one in which he was preaching to a crowd when the ground beneath him rose and formed a hill, following by a white dove setting on his shoulder. For this and for his piety and devotion, he was canonised in 1123. He’s also the patron saint of Cymru (Wales).
Viking Raids
The monastery in Mynyw prided itself on being a religious and intellectual centre. Following the death of Saint David (somewhere between 590 and 601), though, the monastery suffered greatly due to the continuous Viking raids. The Vikings were unscrupulous in their destruction of towns and villages, and this also included churches and monasteries. The Vikings raped nuns, killed monks, and destroyed places of worship. They also burned valuable manuscripts, which is why we have so few documents and literary pieces from that period that survive to this day.
The bishops Moregenau (d.999) and Abraham (d.1080) were murdered by raiders, the latter of who is commemorated by a gravestone that still stands today (the Abraham Stone). The shrine of St David was also vandalised and stripped of its precious metals in 1089.
Building the Cathedral
The first Norman king, William the Conqueror, visited St Davids and prayed there in 1081, which cemented its status as a holy place. Around the same time, the cult of St David was gaining popularity.
Later in 1115, King Henry I ordered the building of a church dedicated to the Welsh saint and appointed Bishop Bernard as Bishop of St Davids. (NB: The cathedral website states there was a church back in St David’s time, but it might have been destroyed by the Vikings or by the builders of the new church).
Soon after in 1123, Pope Calixtus II created the pilgrimage to St Davids, which made the site even more popular. The church was consecrated in 1131, but due to the heightened interest, the building of a bigger church commenced in 1181, which is the current cathedral.
Unfortunately, St Davids Cathedral suffered the collapse of a tower in 1220, and then it was almost destroyed in the big earthquake of 1247/1248. However, the cathedral was always restored after such incidents.
During the tenure of Bishop Gowner (1328-1347), the rood screen and the Bishop Palace (which is unfortunately in ruins now) were added to the site. Then in 1365, Bishop Adam Houghton and Prince John of Gaunt founded the St Mary’s College (ruins again), and they also built a cloister and a chantry.
The cathedral site was only getting bigger with time. Bishop Edward Vaughnan built the Holy Trinity Chapel and he also renovated the nave during his tenure (1509-1522). His successor though believed that superstitions went against the faith and he confiscated St David’s St Justinian’s relics from the temple.
The worst days, however, were yet to come. The armies of Oliver Cromwell destroyed much of the building, similar to other places of worship and castles in Wales, England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Rebuilding the Cathedral
Almost two centuries after the Glorious Revolution in 1793, a Welsh architect, John Nash, was chosen to restore the cathedral. He added a Gothic aesthetic to the ruined medieval church, but his work wasn’t excellent as it required restoration soon afterwards. George Gilbert Scott restored the whole building and his labour produced the church that can be seen today. Private donors have also contributed to the upkeep of the St Davids Cathedral.
Saints, Bishops and Nobles Buried in St Davids Cathedral
Here’s a list of the saints, bishops, and nobles buried in St Davids Cathedral:
- St David
- St Justinian
- Bishop Moregenau
- Bishop Abraham
- Bishop Henry Gower
- Bishop Benedict Nichols
- Bishop Henry Vaughan
- Bishop Adam Houghton
- Bishop Fastolfe
- Archdeacon Gerald of Wales
- Rhys ap Gruffydd (ruler of Deheubarth)
- Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond (father of King Henry VII)
Visiting the Cathedral
St Davids Cathedral is very close to central St Davids, and everyone knows there it is, so you won’t have any trouble finding it! If you simply want to visit it for its rich history, we advise you to go when there are no religious services as to not disturb the congregation. However, you can take part in them if you’re interested.