St David's Day Parade

In 1996 Dean J. Wyn Evans, an archaeologist and distinguished church historian who is the world authority on St Davids Cathedral, succumbed to the desire for scientific proof and had some of the bone fragments from the casket carbon-dated. The conclusion was reached that they dated from between 1000 and 1200. It was suggested that they might possibly include relics of Saint Caradog, but Saint David himself was ruled out. Not everyone was convinced by this. We live in a post-modern age where we have to admit that even science gets it wrong sometimes. It certainly still seems possible that some relics may have been hidden away in their very special niche in one of the most sacred spots in the Cathedral to save them from Bishop Barlow and Thomas Cromwell.

In a remote valley in Montgomeryshire, the shrine of Melangell, the gentle woman saint who rescued a hare from Prince Brochwel Ysgithrog and his huntsmen, has been lovingly restored in recent years and now attracts an increasing number of pilgrims. Over the border in Hereford Cathedral the shrine of Saint Thomas Cantilupe has also regained its medieval splendour. In St Davids Cathedral the shrine of our patron saint is a grey wall with three arches above some empty niches. A few carved heads, randomly gathered from elsewhere, have been stuck on to it by a fairly recent restorer in a desperate attempt to liven it up a bit. Pilgrims to the cathedral of our national saint are disappointed by his shrine, if they notice it at all.

It is therefore extremely heartening that the latest Dean of St Davids, the Very Reverend Jonathan Lean, has decided that to restore the Shrine of Saint David.

Surviving descriptions indicate that the arches once contained pictures of three saints. Two were Saint David and Saint Patrick, the third was possibly Saint Denys of France, though more probably Saint Andrew, to whom the Cathedral is also dedicated. Icons of the three saints are being commissioned, as well as two additional pictures of Saint Non and Saint Justinian (or Stinan) to go on the back of the shrine. The wooden canopy that was originally above the three portraits will be restored. Two of the empty niches below the icons will contain the relics at present in the wooden casket. The third will contain an illuminated Gospel of Saint John to replace the ‘Imperfect Gospel’ destroyed by Barlow. The result will be a focus of prayer, devotion and pilgrimage worthy of Dewi Sant and Tyddewi.

For further information about the restoration of the shrine please contact the Dean of St Davids:
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The author is greatly indebted to F.G. Cowley’s ‘The relics of St David: the historical evidence’, in ST DAVID OF WALES: CULT, CHURCH AND NATION, edited by J. Wyn Evans and Jonathan M. Wooding (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2007) for much of the background information for this article.