Who was St. David? Unveiling the Patron Saint of Wales

Shrouded in the mists of the sixth century, St. David stands as a towering figure, his legacy woven into the very fabric of Welsh history. Revered for his unwavering devotion and miraculous deeds, he shaped the foundations of the early Welsh Church, leaving an indelible mark on the spiritual landscape. Through the monastic communities he built and the teachings that transcended borders, his influence rippled far beyond his time. For over 1,500 years, his story has endured – part history, part legend, inspiring those who walk in his footsteps.

This is the story of St. David, the patron saint of Wales.

Much of what we know about St. David comes from the writings of Rhygfarch, a cleric who penned his biography around 1090 AD, approximately five centuries after David’s death. This hagiography, a work dedicated to the life of a saint, was originally written in Latin as Vita S. David before being translated into Welsh as Buchedd Dewi meaning ‘The Life of David’.

According to tradition, David was born around 500 AD in what is now Pembrokeshire, the son of noble parents. His father, Sant (also known as Sandde or Sanctus), was said to be the son of Ceredig ap Cunedda, the founder and king of Ceredigion, a small kingdom in west Wales. His mother, Non, was a nun, and legend tells that she gave birth to him on a windswept clifftop during a fierce storm – a suitably dramatic beginning for a man destined to become Wales’s most revered saint.

David was raised in an environment of deep faith, shaping his lifelong devotion to Christianity. He’s believed to have studied at the monastery of Hen Fynyw under St. Paulinus, where he quickly became known for his humility, discipline, and dedication to study and prayer – qualities that would define his extraordinary life.

David is associated with numerous miracles. Among the most famous is the miracle at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi, where he was preaching to a large crowd. When people complained they couldn’t see or hear him, the ground beneath him is said to have risen up to form a hill, allowing him to be visible and audible to all. At this moment, a white dove sent by God, symbolising peace and divine approval, is said to have landed on his shoulder, a moment often depicted in his iconography.

Another such event is reported to have happened when he was a young man at school. According to legend, he restored the eyesight of his blind tutor, St. Paulinus, by making the sign of the cross over the older man’s head. He’s also said to have brought a dead boy back to life by splashing holy water on the child’s face.

St. David is credited with many miraculous healings, but this tale is less about healing and more about honey. According to legend, an Irish monk named Modomnoc – later known as St. Modomnóc of Ossory – served as the monastery’s beekeeper, tending to the hives that provided honey and wax.

When the time came for him to return to Ireland, an unusual event took place. Each time he set off for the boat, the bees swarmed after him, settling on the mast as if refusing to be left behind. Time and again, he brought them back to the monastery, but they continued to follow him. Finally, St. David blessed the bees and gave his blessing for Modomnoc to take them across the Irish Sea – an event some say led to the introduction of honeybees to Ireland.

St David is said to have founded several monastic communities during his lifetime, the most notable being the one established around 550 at Glyn Rhosyn, which later became the site of St Davids Cathedral. This monastery was located in an inhospitable area known as Vallis Rosina or ‘the valley of the swamp’ in Latin, which translates to Glyn Rhosyn in Welsh.

The monastic community there followed a strict and simple lifestyle under David’s leadership. The monks lived a self-disciplined life, refraining from meat and alcohol, and drinking only water, which earned David the nickname David the Waterdrinker (Dewi Ddyfrwr in Welsh). They engaged in manual labour, ploughing fields by hand, and sustaining themselves on a diet of bread with salt and herbs. This diet is renowned as having included leeks, hence why the leek is often intertwined in Welsh culture.

David’s monastery became renowned as both a religious and intellectual centre. It was so highly regarded that King Alfred was said to have sought assistance in rebuilding the scholarly and intellectual life of the Kingdom of Wessex from a monk named Asser at St Davids. The original structures of David’s monastery were probably simple wood and stone huts, which were probably destroyed over time by the many attacks that came from seaborne raiders, including the Vikings. It’s thought that around 1081, William the Conqueror prayed at St Davids, calling it a holy and respected place.

The present St Davids Cathedral, which stands on the site of David’s original monastery, began to take shape in the 1180s. Over the centuries, it evolved into an important pilgrimage site, with Pope Calixtus II allegedly decreeing that Two pilgrimages to St Davids is equal to one to Rome, and three pilgrimages to one to Jerusalem. This papal privilege (which some scholars have suggested is a later medieval legend to enhance David’s reputation) significantly elevated the status of St Davids as a centre of pilgrimage in the Western Christian world.

Beyond his renowned monastery at Glyn Rhosyn, St. David is credited with establishing several other monastic settlements and churches throughout Wales and Brittany. His missionary work helped to spread Christianity and forge a network of religious communities that shaped the spiritual landscape of the region.

According to the writings of Rhygfarch, some accounts even claim that David founded Glastonbury Abbey. However, historical evidence for this is scarce, and no strong link is thought to exist between him and the abbey’s origins. It’s possible David visited Glastonbury during his travels and may have donated an altar adorned with a great sapphire – said to have been confiscated by King Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1540s – but this remains uncertain.

David is said to have led a life of piety, charity, and dedication. According to most sources, he died in 589 AD, although it could have been as late as 601 AD.

His last words, preached in a sermon, were reported to have been ‘Lords, brothers and sisters, Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. And as for me, I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.’

A paraphrase of these words, Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd, translated to ‘Do ye the little things in life’ remains a well-known Welsh phrase still in common use today.

In 1120, David was canonised by Pope Callixtus II. By the twelfth or thirteenth century, over sixty churches were dedicated to St. David. He’s also credited with spreading the word of Christianity in northwestern France, with places in and around Brittany, including Saint-Divy, Saint-Yvi and Landivy, named after him.

St. David’s Day itself has been celebrated since at least the twelfth century and takes place on the 1st of March. Known in Wales as the Feast of St. David, it remains a cherished tradition, with people across the country donning daffodils and leeks – the national symbols of Wales – while the striking flag of St. David, a golden cross on a black background, flies proudly in towns and cities.

A key part of the celebrations is the eisteddfod, a festival where schoolchildren and communities come together to showcase Welsh poetry, music, and culture. Traditional foods such as cawl (a hearty soup), Welsh cakes, bara brith (a spiced tea loaf), Welsh lamb, and Welsh rarebit are enjoyed across the country, adding a delicious touch to the festivities.

Many towns and cities, including Cardiff and St Davids – the UK’s smallest city, with a population of around 1,600 – host lively parades. Cardiff’s National St. David’s Day Parade is a particular highlight, featuring theatrical performances, costumed dragons, and stirring renditions of beloved Welsh songs, from Calon Lân and Cwm Rhondda to the national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.