Welsh Country March-April 2017

WELSH CONNECTIONS
white dove settled on his shoulder as a symbol of God’s grace and
blessing. Today, the village of Llanddewi Brefi is thought to be
located on the spot where this miracle took place.
Named in his honour, St David’s Cathedral now stands on the
site of the original monastery. David is thought to have died on
the 1 st March 589 and is buried at the Cathedral ensuring that this
would be an important place of worship for generations to come.
From the 12 th Century onwards, the 1 st March became a national
saint’s day – a time for celebration and feasting. David now took
his rightful place alongside his contemporaries of the British Isles –
Saints George, Andrew and Patrick.
Large crowds would gather from far and
wide to hear David teach his holy work.
Some would make the pilgrimage in
the hope of finding cures for an illness
or a sick relative back at home. Others
wanted to show their devotion to God by
bathing in the sacred waters near to the
holy site, even taking small bottles of the
water home in the belief that it would
protect them on their return journey.
A Lasting Legacy
In England and Wales, city status was traditionally given to towns
which had diocesan Cathedrals. This ruling can be traced back to
the 1540’s when Henry VIII founded dioceses in six English towns
and issued them all city status by awarding them a ‘letters patent’ or
official notification granted by the monarch. This method resulted
in some cities being very small when their population growth was
unaffected by the Industrial Revolution. One such location which
falls into the ‘Smallest Cities in the UK’ category is St David’s in
Wales, but it’s magnificent Cathedral more than makes up for the
area’s lack of residents.
As we have already learnt, there has been a place of worship on
this site since the 6 th century, when a monastery attracted pilgrims
from far and wide. Today, the Cathedral or Eglwys Gadeiriol
Tyddewi as it’s known in Welsh, stands majestically on the rugged
coastline of West Wales. Stretching back fourteen centuries, it is the
oldest cathedral settlement in Britain.
Built in what is officially known as Transitional Norman style,
the nave of the Cathedral would have originally contained no seats,
but instead was used as a processional area. Construction of the
screen began in the 12 th century whilst the carved arches have each
been created in a different pattern.
An earthquake in the 13 th century affected the foundations
and caused the walls to lean outwards so a wooden roof was
constructed instead of a stone vaulted equivalent. The High Alter
underwent major reconstruction in the 15 th and 16 th centuries with
St Davids 56p stamp issued in 2008 by Royal Mail
patterned tiles laid within the sanctuary. This area is the centre
of Cathedral worship, but is smaller than its previous medieval
counterpart.
When a variety of objects were found in the graves of four of
the Cathedral’s early Bishops, the items went on display for the
public to see in The Treasury, which showcases Christian worship
through the ages. These items include the amethyst encrusted rings
of Bishop Carew and Bishop Beck; silver chalices dating back to
the 13 th century; copper and gilded staffs of office, and medieval
coins. Kneelers, alter frontals (used to dress the altar) and other
handcrafted items are some of the later additions to the collection,
many decorated with gold and silver thread embroidered on velvet
and silk backgrounds. Over the centuries the Cathedral has become
a treasure trove of important antiquities from our past and can
boast a first edition map of Wales by the early cartographer John
Speed dating from 1610 - the earliest pictorial street map of some
of the major towns in existence; a 1620 edition of the Welsh Bible,
and an ancient volume dating back to 1505.
From the devastating effects of the earthquake and its near ruin
in the Civil War, to its extensive restoration in the Victorian era by
prominent designer Sir George Gilbert Scott, the building betrays
nothing of its chequered past and looks forward to a new and
exciting future which continues to attract 21 st Century followers of
Saint David and his religious beliefs.
Six Cathedral Stamps issued in 2008
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