| Bishopric: | St Davids |
| Border: | anglican |
| Coat: | Coat of Arms of the Diocese of St Davids.svg |
| Incumbent: | Dorrien Davies |
| Province: | Wales |
| Established: | 6th century |
| Cathedral: | St Davids Cathedral |
| First Incumbent: | Saint David |
| Diocese: | St Davids |
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,[1] who retired on 31 July 2023. On 17 October 2023, Dorrien Davies, Archdeacon of Carmarthen, was elected to become the next Bishop;[2] 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.[3]
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 3500sqmi.
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6] 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.
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.
Accounts of the early incumbents on the list are conflicting.
| Pre-Reformation Bishops of St Davids Exerting Metropolitan Authority | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| unknown | 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 Cenauc | |
| unknown | Saint Telio | Also known as Eliud, Teilaus | |
| unknown | Saint Ceneu | Also known as Kenea | |
| unknown | Morfael | Also known as Morwal, Morvael | |
| unknown | Haernynin | Also known as Haerwnen, Haernunen, Haernurier | |
| unknown | Elwaed | Also known as Elfaed, Elvaeth, Elbodus of Gwynedd | |
| unknown | Gurnuru | Also known as Gwrnwen, Gurnuen, Gurnel | |
| unknown | Llunwerth I | Also known as Lendivord, Leudinord, Lendywyth | |
| unknown | Gwrgwst | Also known as Gorwysc, Gorwyst | |
| unknown | Gwrgan | Also known as Gogan, Gorgan | |
| unknown | Clydog | Also known as Cledauc | |
| unknown | Einion | Also known as Anian, Einaen | |
| unknown | Elfodd | Also known as Elbodg, Elvoed, Elbodu, Eludoeth, Elbodius, Elffod (may have been also/instead Bishop of Bangor) | |
| unknown | Ethelman | Also known as Ethelmen, Eldunen | |
| unknown | Elaunc | Also known as Elanc, Elnaeth | |
| unknown | Maelsgwyd | Also known as Malscoed, Maelskwythe | |
| unknown | Sadyrnfyw the Generous | Also known as Sadyrnfyw Hael, Sadwrnfen, Sadurnven, Sadermen, Madenew | |
| unknown | Cadell | Also known as Catellus, Catulus | |
| unknown | Sulhaithnay | Also known as Sulnay | |
| Nobis | Also known as Novis, Novus, Namis, Nonis | ||
| unknown | Idwal | Also known as Etwal, Doythwall | |
| unknown | Asser | ||
| unknown | Arthwael | Also known as Arthfael, Arthmail, Arthvael, Alhuael, Arthuael | |
| unknown | Samson | Also known as Sampson | |
| unknown | Ruelin | Also known as Ruclinus | |
| unknown | Rhydderch | Also known as Rodherich; as Riderch, placed – after Bishop Morfyw in the Annals of Wales (B text)[7] | |
| unknown | Elwyn | Also known as Elguni | |
| unknown | 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 Argustel | |
| unknown | 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 Griffri | |
| 1115 | (Daniel) | Also known as Deiniol. Elected but set aside; became Archdeacon of Powys instead. | |
| align=center colspan="4" | Source(s):[8] [9] [10] | ||
| Pre-Reformation Bishops of St. Davids Suffragan to Canterbury | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1115 | 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 1176 | |
| 1176 | 1198 | Peter de Leia | Previously Prior of Wenlock; consecrated bishop 7 November 1176; died 16 July 1198 |
| 1199 | 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 office |
| 1215 | 1229 | Iorwerth | Also known as Gervase; elected before 18 June and consecrated 21 June 1215; died before 27 January 1229 |
| 1230 | 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 before 2 April 1247 |
| 1248 | 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 1255 |
| 1256 | 1280 | Richard Carew | Elected after 4 August 1255; consecrated sometime between 11 February 10 March 1256; died 1 April 1280 |
| 1280 | 1293 | Thomas Bek | Also known as Thomas Beck, Thomas Becke; elected before 17 June and consecrated 6 October 1280; died 14 April 1293 |
| 1296 | 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 1328 |
| 1328 | 1347 | Henry Gower | Elected 21 April 1328; received possession of the temporalities 26 May 1328; consecrated 12 June 1328; died before 4 May 1347 |
| 1347 | 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 1349 |
| 1350 | 1352 | Reginald Brian | Appointed 11 September 1349; received possession of the temporalities 15 January 1350; consecrated 26 September 1350; translated to Worcester 22 October 1352 |
| 1353 | 1361 | Thomas Fastolf | Appointed 22 October 1352; received possession of the temporalities 4 June 1353; died in June 1361 |
| 1361 | 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 1389 |
| 1389 | (Richard Mitford) | Elected but set aside by the pope | |
| 1389 | 1397 | John Gilbert | Translated from Hereford; received possession of the temporalities 12 July 1389; died 28 July 1397 |
| 1397 | 1407 | Guy Mone | Appointed 30 August and consecrated 11 November 1397; also was Lord High Treasurer in 1398; died 31 August 1407 |
| 1408 | 1414 | Henry Chichele | Consecrated 17 June 1408; translated to Canterbury 27 April 1414 |
| 1414 | 1415 | John Catterick | Appointed 27 April and received possession of the temporalities 2 June 1414; translated to Coventry and Lichfield 1 February 1415 |
| 1415 | 1417 | Stephen Patrington | Appointed 1 February and consecrated 9 June 1415; received possession of the temporalities 16 June 1514; translated to Chichester 15 December 1417 |
| 1417 | 1433 | Benedict Nichols | Translated from Bangor 15 December 1417 and received possession of the temporalities 1 June 1418; died in office 25 June 1433 |
| 1433 | 1442 | Thomas Rodburn | Also known as Thomas Rudborne and Redebourne;[11] previously Archdeacon of Sudbury; appointed 8 October and received possession of the temporalities 16 December 1433; consecrated 31 January 1434; died before 27 June 1442 |
| 1442 | 1446 | William Lyndwood | Appointed 27 June and received possession of the temporalities 14 August 1442; consecrated 26 August 1442; also was Lord Privy Seal 1432–1443; died in office 21 October 1446 |
| 1447 | John Langton | Appointed 23 January and received possession of the temporalities 2 March 1447; consecrated 7 May 1447; also was Chancellor of the University of Cambridge 1436–1445 and 1447; died in office 22 May 1447 | |
| 1447 | 1460 | John De la Bere | Previously Dean of Wells; appointed 15 September and received possession of the temporalities 14 November 1447; consecrated 19 November 1447; resigned before 23 July 1460 |
| 1460 | 1481 | Robert Tully | Previously a monk at Gloucester Abbey; appointed 23 July and consecrated after 28 August 1460; died circa 1481 |
| 1482 | 1483 | Richard Martyn | Also spelled Martin; formerly Bishop-designate of Waterford and Lismore; appointed Bishop of St Davids 26 April and consecrated 28 July 1482; also was a Privy Councillor to Edward IV; died in office 11 May 1483 |
| 1483 | 1485 | Thomas Langton | Formerly Prebendary of Wells; appointed 4 July and consecrated sometime in August or September 1483; received possession of the temporalities 25 March 1484; translated to Salisbury 8 February 1485 |
| 1485 | 1496 | Hugh Pavy | Previously Archdeacon of Wiltshire; appointed 6 May 1485 and received possession of the temporalities the same year; consecrated 9 October 1485; died sometime between 3 May and 3 August 1496 |
| 1496 | 1504 | John Morgan | Also known as John Young; previously Dean of Windsor; appointed 3 August and received possession of the temporalities 23 November 1496; died in office sometime between 24 April and 19 May 1504 |
| 1505 | 1508 | Robert Sherborne | Previously Dean of St Paul's, London; appointed 5 January and received possession of the temporalities 12 April 1505; consecrated 11 May 1505; translated to Chichester 18 September 1508 |
| 1509 | 1522 | Edward Vaughan | Formerly Prebendary of St Paul's, London; appointed 13 June and consecrated 22 July 1509; died in office before 27 January 1522 |
| 1523 | 1536 | Richard Rawlins | Previously Warden of Merton College, Oxford and Prebendary of St Paul's, London; appointed 11 March and consecrated 26 April 1523; died in office 18 February 1536 |
| align=center colspan="4" | Source(s): | ||
| Bishops of St Davids during the Reformation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1536 | 1548 | William Barlow | Formerly Bishop-elect of St Asaph; elected Bishop of St Davids 10 April and consecrated in June 1536; translated to Bath & Wells in 1548 |
| 1549 | 1554 | Robert Ferrar | Consecrated 9 September 1548; deprived by Queen Mary in March 1554; burned at the stake 30 March 1555 |
| 1554 | 1559 | Henry Morgan | Principal of St Edward's Hall, Oxford; consecrated 1 April 1554; deprived by Elizabeth I in the summer of 1559; died 23 December 1559 |
| align=center colspan="4" | Source(s): | ||
| Bishops of St Davids | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1560 | 1561 | Thomas Young | Previously Chancellor of St Davids; consecrated 21 January 1560; translated to York 25 February 1561 |
| 1561 | 1581 | Richard Davies | Translated from St Asaph 21 May 1561; died in office in October or November 1581 |
| 1582 | 1592 | Marmaduke Middleton | Translated from Waterford and Lismore 30 November 1582; deprived circa 1590–1592; died in exile 1593 |
| 1590/92 | 1594 | See vacant | |
| 1594 | 1615 | Anthony Rudd | Previously Dean of Gloucester; consecrated bishop 9 June 1594; died in office 7 March 1615 |
| 1615 | 1621 | Richard Milbourne | Previously Dean of Rochester; consecrated bishop 9 July 1615; translated to Carlisle in 1621 |
| 1621 | 1627 | William Laud | Previously Dean of Gloucester; consecrated bishop 18 November 1621; translated to Bath & Wells 18 September 1626 |
| 1627 | 1635 | Theophilus Feild | Translated from Llandaff 12 July 1627; translated to Hereford 23 December 1635 |
| 1635 | 1646 | Roger Maynwaring | Previously Dean of Worcester; consecrated bishop 28 February 1636; deprived of the see when the English episcopacy was abolished by Parliament on 9 October 1646; died 1 July 1653 |
| 1646 | 1660 | The see was abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate[12] [13] | |
| 1660 | 1677 | William Lucy | Previously Rector of Highclere; consecrated bishop 2 December 1660; died in office 4 October 1677 |
| 1677 | 1683 | William Thomas | Previously Dean of Worcester; consecrated bishop of St Davids in early 1678; translated to Worcester 27 August 1683 |
| 1683 | 1686 | Laurence Womock | Previously Archdeacon of Suffolk; consecrated bishop 11 November 1683; died in office 12 March 1686 |
| 1686 | 1687 | John Lloyd | Previously Principal of Jesus College, Oxford; consecrated bishop 17 October 1686; died in office 1687 |
| 1687 | 1699 | Thomas Watson | Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge; consecrated bishop 26 June 1687; suspended 21 August 1694 and deprived 3 August 1699 for crimes including simony; died 3 June 1717 |
| 1699 | 1705 | See vacant | |
| 1705 | 1710 | George Bull | Previously Archdeacon of Llandaff; consecrated bishop 29 April 1705; died in office 17 February 1710 |
| 1710 | 1713 | Philip Bisse | Consecrated bishop 19 November 1710; translated to Hereford 16 February 1713 |
| 1713 | 1723 | Adam Ottley | Previously Archdeacon of Salop and Prebendary of Hereford; consecrated bishop 15 March 1713; died in office 3 October 1723 |
| 1724 | 1731 | Richard Smalbroke | Previously Treasurer of Llandaff; consecrated bishop 3 February 1724; translated to Lichfield & Coventry 20 February 1731 |
| 1731 | Elias Sydall | Previously Dean of Canterbury; consecrated bishop 11 April 1731; translated to Gloucester 2 November 1731 | |
| 1732 | 1743 | Nicholas Clagett | Previously Dean of Rochester; consecrated bishop 23 January 1732; translated to Exeter 2 August 1742 |
| 1743 | Edward Willes | Previously Dean of Lincoln; consecrated bishop 2 January 1743; translated to Bath & Wells 12 December 1743 | |
| 1744 | 1752 | The Hon Richard Trevor | Previously a Canon of Windsor; consecrated bishop 1 April 1744; translated to Durham 7 December 1752 |
| 1752 | 1761 | Anthony Ellys | Formerly Prebendary of Gloucester; consecrated bishop 31 March 1753; died in office 16 January 1761 |
| 1761 | 1766 | Samuel Squire | Previously Dean of Bristol; consecrated bishop 24 March 1761; died in office 7 May 1766 |
| 1766 | Robert Lowth | Formerly Prebendary of Durham; consecrated bishop 15 June 1766; translated to Oxford 16 October 1766 | |
| 1766 | 1774 | Charles Moss | Previously Archdeacon of Colchester; consecrated bishop 30 November 1766; translated to Bath & Wells 2 June 1774 |
| 1774 | 1779 | The Hon James Yorke | Previously Dean of Lincoln; consecrated bishop 26 June 1774; translated to Gloucester 2 August 1779 |
| 1779 | 1783 | John Warren | Previously Archdeacon of Worcester; consecrated bishop 19 September 1779; translated to Bangor 9 June 1783 |
| 1783 | 1788 | Edward Smallwell | Consecrated bishop 6 July 1783; translated to Oxford 15 April 1788 |
| 1788 | 1793 | Samuel Horsley | Formerly Prebendary of Gloucester; consecrated bishop 11 May 1788; translated to Rochester 7 December 1793 |
| 1794 | 1800 | The Hon William Stuart | Previously Canon of Christ Church, Oxford; consecrated bishop 12 January 1794; translated to Armagh in 1800 |
| 1801 | 1803 | Lord George Murray | Nominated bishop 20 December 1800 and consecrated 11 February 1801; died in office 3 June 1803 |
| 1803 | 1825 | Thomas Burgess | Prebendary of Durham; nominated bishop 25 June consecrated 17 July 1803; translated to Salisbury 17 June 1825 |
| 1825 | 1840 | John Jenkinson | Nominated bishop 18 June and consecrated 24 July 1825; died in office 6 or 7 July 1840 |
| 1840 | 1874 | Connop Thirlwall | Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; nominated bishop 23 July and consecrated 9 August 1840; resigned 16 June 1874; died 27 July 1875 |
| 1874 | 1897 | Basil Jones | Consecrated bishop 24 August 1874; died in office 14 January 1897 |
| 1897 | 1920 | John Owen | Consecrated 1 May 1897. |
| align=center colspan="4" | Source(s):[14] | ||
| Bishops of St Davids | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1920 | 1926 | John Owen | The Church in Wales was disestablished in 1920. Died in office 4 November 1926 |
| 1926 | 1950 | David Prosser | Consecrated 2 February 1927; also was Archbishop of Wales 1944–1949; died in office 28 February 1950 |
| 1950 | 1956 | William Havard | Translated from St Asaph; elected 30 March 1950; died in office 17 August 1956 |
| 1956 | 1971 | John Richards | Consecrated 30 November 1956; resigned 31 March 1971 |
| 1971 | 1981 | Eric Roberts | Elected 21 April and consecrated 1 June 1971; resigned 30 September 1981 |
| 1981 | 1991 | George Noakes | Elected 11 November 1981 and consecrated 2 February 1982; also was Archbishop of Wales from 1986 to 1991; relinquished both posts in 1991; died 14 July 2008 |
| 1991 | 1995 | Ivor Rees[15] | Elected in 1991 (consecrated as assistant bishop in 1988); retired in 1996. |
| 1996 | 2001 | Huw Jones | Formerly Assistant Bishop of St Asaph; enthroned in St Davids Cathedral in 1996; retired as bishop at the end of 2001 |
| 2002 | 2008 | Carl Cooper | Previously Archdeacon of Merioneth; elected and consecrated in 2002; resigned 29 April 2008 |
| 2008 | 2016 | Wyn Evans | Previously Dean of St Davids 1994–2008; elected bishop 1 September and consecrated 29 November 2008; enthroned in St Davids Cathedral 6 December 2008 |
| 2016 | 2023 | Joanna Penberthy | Confirmed 30 November 2016;[16] consecrated 21 January 2017;[17] retired 31 July 2023[18] |
| 2023 | present | Dorrien Davies | Previously Archdeacon of Carmarthen; elected 17 October 2023; confirmed 29 November; consecration scheduled for 27 January 2024 |
| align=center colspan="4" | Source(s): | ||
Prior to serving as Bishop diocesan, Ivor Rees was appointed Assistant Bishop of St Davids and Archdeacon of St Davids in 1988, in order to assist Noakes, by then both diocesan Bishop of St Davids and Archbishop of Wales. Rees was elected diocesan bishop after Noakes' retirement.
Book: Fryde . E. B. . Greenway . D. E. . Porter . S. . Roy . I. . 1986 . Handbook of British Chronology . 3rd . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge . 0-521-56350-X .