Happy St. David's Day

1 March 2024

Who was St David?

St David was born in 500 and died on 1 March – St David’s Day - in 589. He is the only native-born patron saint of the countries of Britain and Ireland. Apparently his mother, St Non, gave birth to him during a storm! St David was the greatest figure in the 6th century Welsh Age of Saints. He travelled far and wide, and founded scores of religious communities across Wales and England. St David’s remains are buried in St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, where he had eventually settled and established a religious community.

St David died on 1 March – St David’s Day - in 589. He was buried at the site of St Davids Cathedral, where his shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages. His last words to his followers came from a sermon he gave on the previous Sunday: ‘Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.’

The phrase ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd’ - ‘Do the little things in life’ - is still a well-known maxim in Wales.