St David's Cathedral

Today's the day . . . . . . . . . to endure

The origin of this incredibly spectacular cathedral began with a small monastic community founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in 589. Between 645 and 1097, the community was attacked many times by raiders, including the Vikings - but somehow it survived and slowly established itself as an important religious and intellectual centre.

In 1115, with the area under Norman control, King Henry I of England, appointed Bishop Bernard as Bishop of St David's. He began to improve life within the community, and commenced construction of a new cathedral. In 1123, Pope Calixtus II granted Bishop Bernard's request to bestow a papal privilege upon St Davids, making it a centre of pilgrimage for the Western world.  The Pope decreed that "Two pilgrimages to St David's is equal to one to Rome, and three pilgrimages to one to Jerusalem".  The new cathedral was quickly constructed and Bishop Bernard consecrated it in 1131. 

Over the centuries that followed, the building has been added to and changed in many ways.  In the 14th century, the Bishops Palace was constructed, but is now a ruin (see extra) - albeit an impressive one.  The most amazing thing, however, is that it has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for the past 1500 years.  

And it remains so today . . . . . . .