St David Patron Saint of Wales

Discover the Welsh flag high on church towers of the Open Church Network on St David’s Day, March 1^st.

Discover the representation of St David in stained glass windows of the Open Church Network.

The Life of St David
According to tradition, St. David (c580-589) was the son of King Sant of South Wales and St. Non. He was ordained a priest and later studied under St. Paulinus. Later, he was involved in missionary work and founded a number of monasteries. The monastery he founded at Menevia in Southwestern Wales was noted for extreme asceticism. David and his monks drank neither wine nor beer - only water - while putting in a full day of heavy manual labor and intense study. Around the year 550, David attended a synod at Brevi in Cardiganshire. His contributions at the synod are said to have been the major cause for his election as primate of the Cambrian Church. He was reportedly consecrated archbishop by the patriarch of Jerusalem while on a visit to the Holy Land. David died at his monastery in Menevia around the year 589.

He is revered as the patron of Wales. St. David was endowed with substantial qualities of spiritual leadership and spread Christianity in Wales when much of England remained pagan. What is more, many monasteries flourished as a result of his leadership and good example. His staunch adherence to monastic piety sets a fine example for modern Christians seeking order and form in their prayer life.

Discover St David at St Giles Wrexham, Wrexham RC Cathedral, and St Chad`s Hanmer.
Discover St David`s Day services in Welsh in some of our churches

Updated 18th April 2008 by BB