The Bishop of St Davids is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St Davids.
The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St Davids in Pembrokeshire, founding St Davids Cathedral. The most recent former bishop of St Davids was Joanna Penberthy, who retired on 31 July 2023. On 17 October 2023, Dorrien Davies, Archdeacon of Carmarthen, was elected to become the next Bishop; the confirmation of his election (where he legally became Bishop) happened on 29 November 2023 and his episcopal consecration took place on 27 January 2024 at Bangor Cathedral.
History The history of the diocese of St Davids is traditionally traced to that saint in the latter half of the 6th century. Records of the history of the diocese before Norman times are very fragmentary, however, consisting of a few chance references in old chronicles, such as 'Annales Cambriae' and 'Brut y Tywysogion' (Rolls Series).
Originally corresponding with the boundaries of Dyfed (Demetia), St Davids eventually comprised all the country south of the River Dyfi and west of the English border, with the exception of the greater part of Glamorganshire, in all some .
Claim of metropolitan status The early ecclesiastical organisation of the Welsh church is unclear but scanty references reveal that some form of archbishopric definitely existed, with multiple bishops under the jurisdiction of a senior see. One of the earliest mentions of the religious community at St Davids Cathedral comes in the work of Asser who was trained there. In his Life of King Alfred c. 893 Asser clearly describes his kinsman, Nobis, also of St Davids, as Archbishop. In the Annales Cambriae, Elfodd is termed 'archbishop of the land of Gwynedd’ in his obit, under the year 809.J. Wyn Evans, 'David (d. 589/601)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
Rhygyfarch's Life of Saint David (c. 1090) states Saint David was anointed as an archbishop by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, a position confirmed at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi by popular acclaim.
Then, blessed and extolled by the mouth of all, he is with the consent of all the bishops, kings, princes, nobles, and all grades of the whole Britannic race, made archbishop, and his monastery too is declared the metropolis of the whole country, so that whoever ruled it should be accounted archbishop.Rhygyvarch's Life of St David. A.W. Wade-Evans's (Ed.) sections, 48, 53
Rhygyfarch's claim may be dubious history, but there can be little doubt he was reflecting a pre-existing tradition. It is unclear when St Davids came definitely under the metropolitan jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, but about 1115 King Henry I intruded a Norman into the see, Bernard, Bishop of St Davids, who prior to his ordination was confirmed by Canterbury, much to the disgust of the Brut y Tywysogyon which noted that Henry I 'made him bishop in Menevia in contempt of the clerics of the Britons’. Once in place Bernard became convinced that St Davids was a Metropolitan archbishopric (and thus of the same status as Canterbury). Bernard in the 1120s claimed metropolitan jurisdiction over Wales and presented his suit unsuccessfully before six successive popes. Pope Eugenius III was giving the case serious consideration, the issue was to be put to the synod summoned to meet at Rheims in March 1148, but the death of Bernard meant the case lapsed.David Walker, 'Bernard (d. 1148)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 The idea of Archbishops in Wales was also reflected in the work of Geoffrey of Monmouth. The claim was afterwards revived in the time of Gerald of Wales who pressed it vigorously. The failure of Gerald's campaign saw the claim lapse but it was revived by Owain Glyndŵr's plan for an independent Welsh Church. The idea was also revived in the Reformation: Bishop Richard Davies in the 'Address to the Welsh nation' prefixed to the translation into Welsh of the New Testament by him and William Salesbury referred to 'Archbishop David'. It was only in 1920 that an Archbishop of Wales was re-established.
Further history The building of the present St Davids Cathedral was begun under Bishop Peter de Leia (1176–1198). In the troubled times of the Reformation the former bishop of St Davids, William Barlow (1536–1548), was a consecrator of Archbishop Matthew Parker in 1559.
At the English Reformation the See ceased to be in communion with Rome, but it continued as a See of the Church of England, and, since disestablishment, of the Church in Wales.
List of bishops
Pre-Reformation bishops Accounts of the early incumbents on the list are conflicting.
Nominal archbishops Pre-Reformation Bishops of St Davids Exerting Metropolitan AuthorityFromUntilIncumbentNotesunknown Saint Dyfrig Also known as Dubricius. At Caerleon.unknown Saint David Also known as Dafydd, Dewi Sant. Moved diocese to Meneva (St. Davids).unknown Cynog Also known as Cenaucunknown Saint Telio Also known as Eliud, Teilausunknown Saint Ceneu Also known as Keneaunknown Morfael Also known as Morwal, Morvaelunknown Haernynin Also known as Haerwnen, Haernunen, Haernurierunknown Elwaed Also known as Elfaed, Elvaeth, Elbodus of Gwyneddunknown Gurnuru Also known as Gwrnwen, Gurnuen, Gurnelunknown Llunwerth I Also known as Lendivord, Leudinord, Lendywythunknown Gwrgwst Also known as Gorwysc, Gorwystunknown Gwrgan Also known as Gogan, Gorganunknown Clydog Also known as Cledaucunknown Einion Also known as Anian, Einaenunknown Elfodd Also known as Elbodg, Elvoed, Elbodu, Eludoeth, Elbodius, Elffod (may have been also/instead Bishop of Bangor) unknown Ethelman Also known as Ethelmen, Eldunenunknown Elaunc Also known as Elanc, Elnaethunknown Maelsgwyd Also known as Malscoed, Maelskwytheunknown Sadyrnfyw the Generous Also known as Sadyrnfyw Hael, Sadwrnfen, Sadurnven, Sadermen, Madenew unknown Cadell Also known as Catellus, Catulusunknown Sulhaithnay Also known as Sulnay Nobis Also known as Novis, Novus, Namis, Nonis unknown Idwal Also known as Etwal, Doythwallunknown Asser unknown Arthwael Also known as Arthfael, Arthmail, Arthvael, Alhuael, Arthuaelunknown Samson Also known as Sampsonunknown Ruelin Also known as Ruclinusunknown Rhydderch Also known as Rodherich; as Riderch, placed – after Bishop Morfyw in the Annals of Wales (B text)Annals of Wales (B text), p. 10.unknown Elwyn Also known as Elguniunknown Llunwerth II Also known as Lunverd, Lumberth, Lywarch, Luvert Morfyw Also known as Morbiw, Morcleis, Morlei Eneuris Also known as Everus or Eueuris unknown Nathan unknown Ieuan Also known as Jevan, Evan, &c. In office for one night.unknown Arwystl Also known as Argustelunknown Morgeneu I Also known as Morgenveth, Morgeney, Uregeneu Morgeneu II Also known as Morgynnyd Erbin Also known as Ervin, Heurun, Hernun, Herbin Trahaearn Also Tramerin, Carmerin Joseph Also Joseff Bleiddud Also Beithyd, Bledud, Bleddud Sulien Also Sulghein, Sulgenius. Resigned. Abraham Killed. Sulien Restored. Rhigyfarch Also known as Rythmarch, Rikemarth. Composed influential Life of St. David. Possibly never consecrated. 1115 Wilfrid Also known as Griffri1115 (Daniel) Also known as Deiniol. Elected but set aside; became Archdeacon of Powys instead. Source(s):Hardy, T. Duffus. Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae; or, a Calendar of the Principal Ecclesiastical Dignitaries in England and Wales, and of the Chief Officers in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge from the Earliest Times to the Year MDCCXV, Corrected and Continued to the Present Time, Vol. I, "St. David's". Oxford Univ. Press, 1854. Accessed 18 February 2013.St Davids Cathedral: "Past Bishops & Deans of St Davids". Accessed 16 March 2010.
Suffragan bishops Pre-Reformation Bishops of St. Davids Suffragan to CanterburyFromUntilIncumbentNotes1115 Bernard Chancellor to Queen Adelize; made suffragans of Canterbury; consecrated 19 September 1115; possibly died 22 April 1148 1176 David FitzGerald Previously Archdeacon of Cardigan; consecrated bishop 19 December 1147 or 1148; died 8 May 11761176 1198 Peter de Leia Previously Prior of Wenlock; consecrated bishop 7 November 1176; died 16 July 11981199 1203 (Gerald of Wales) Also known as Gerallt Gymro, Giraldus Cambrensis, Gerald the Welshman, Gerald de Barri; nephew of David FitzGerald; elected 29 June 1199, but assent refused by King John; continued as bishop-elect until resigned in 1203; died 1203 1214 Geoffrey de Henlaw Also known as Geoffrey of Hennelawe; nominated in July 1199, but not consecrated until 7 December 1203; died in office1215 1229 Iorwerth Also known as Gervase; elected before 18 June and consecrated 21 June 1215; died before 27 January 12291230 1247 Anselm le Gros Also known as Anselm the Fat, Anselm de la Grace, Anselm de Gras; elected before 7 April 1229; received possession of the temporalities 20 November 1230; consecrated 9 February 1231; died March 12471248 1256 Thomas Wallensis Also known as Thomas le Waleyes, Thomas the Welshman; elected sometime between 16 April and 16 July 1247; received possession of the temporalities 26 September 1247; consecrated 26 July 1248; died 11 July 12551256 1280 Richard Carew Elected after 4 August 1255; consecrated sometime between 11 February 10 March 1256; died 1 April 12801280 1293 Thomas Bek Also known as Thomas Beck, Thomas Becke; elected before 17 June and consecrated 6 October 1280; died 14 April 12931296 1328 David Martin Also known as David Martyn; elected in June 1293; received possession of the temporalities 11 October 1293; consecrated 30 September 1296; died 9 March 13281328 1347 Henry Gower Elected 21 April 1328; received possession of the temporalities 26 May 1328; consecrated 12 June 1328; died before 4 May 13471347 1349 John of Thoresby Appointed 23 May 1347; received possession of the temporalities 14 July 1347; consecrated 23 September 1347; translated to Worcester 4 September 13491350 1352 Reginald Brian Appointed 11 September 1349; received possession of the temporalities 15 January 1350; consecrated 26 September 1350; translated to Worcester 22 October 13521353 1361 Thomas Fastolf Appointed 22 October 1352; received possession of the temporalities 4 June 1353; died in June 13611361 1389 Adam Houghton Appointed 20 September 1361; received possession of the temporalities 8 December 1361; consecrated 2 January 1362; also was Lord Chancellor 1377–1378; died 13 February 13891389 (Richard Mitford) Elected but set aside by the pope1389 1397 John Gilbert Translated from Hereford; received possession of the temporalities 12 July 1389; died 28 July 13971397 1407 Guy Mone Appointed 30 August and consecrated 11 November 1397; also was Lord High Treasurer in 1398; died 31 August 14071408 1414 Henry Chichele Consecrated 17 June 1408; translated to Canterbury 27 April 14141414 1415 John Catterick Appointed 27 April and received possession of the temporalities 2 June 1414; translated to Coventry and Lichfield 1 February 14151415 1417 Stephen Patrington Appointed 1 February and consecrated 9 June 1415; received possession of the temporalities 16 June 1514; translated to Chichester 15 December 14171417 1433 Benedict Nichols Translated from Bangor 15 December 1417 and received possession of the temporalities 1 June 1418; died in office 25 June 14331433 1442 Thomas Rodburn Also known as Thomas Rudborne and Redebourne;1446, Common Pleas records; 6th entry (starting Thomas Ive), on line 4 in