Bishop of St Davids
Bishopric
anglican
Coat of arms of the
Coat of arms
Incumbent:
Dorrien Davies
Location
Ecclesiastical provinceWales
Information
First holderSaint David
Established6th century
DioceseSt Davids
CathedralSt Davids Cathedral

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; the confirmation of his election (where he legally became Bishop) happened on 29 November 2023 and his episcopal consecration is scheduled for 27 January 2024 at Bangor Cathedral.[2]

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 3,500 square miles (9,100 km2).

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] 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 Authority
From Until Incumbent Notes
unknownSaint DyfrigAlso known as Dubricius. At Caerleon.
unknownSaint DavidAlso known as Dafydd, Dewi Sant. Moved diocese to Meneva (St. Davids).
unknownCynogAlso known as Cenauc
unknownSaint TelioAlso known as Eliud, Teilaus
unknownSaint CeneuAlso known as Kenea
unknownMorfaelAlso known as Morwal, Morvael
unknownHaernyninAlso known as Haerwnen, Haernunen, Haernurier
unknownElwaedAlso known as Elfaed, Elvaeth, Elbodus of Gwynedd
unknownGurnuruAlso known as Gwrnwen, Gurnuen, Gurnel
unknownLlunwerth IAlso known as Lendivord, Leudinord, Lendywyth
unknownGwrgwstAlso known as Gorwysc, Gorwyst
unknownGwrganAlso known as Gogan, Gorgan
unknownClydogAlso known as Cledauc
unknownEinionAlso known as Anian, Einaen
unknownc. 809ElfoddAlso known as Elbodg, Elvoed, Elbodu, Eludoeth, Elbodius, Elffod (may have been also/instead Bishop of Bangor)
c. 809unknownEthelmanAlso known as Ethelmen, Eldunen
unknownElauncAlso known as Elanc, Elnaeth
unknownMaelsgwydAlso known as Malscoed, Maelskwythe
unknownc. 831Sadyrnfyw the GenerousAlso known as Sadyrnfyw Hael, Sadwrnfen, Sadurnven, Sadermen, Madenew
c. 831unknownCadellAlso known as Catellus, Catulus
unknownc. 841SulhaithnayAlso known as Sulnay
c. 841c. 873NobisAlso known as Novis, Novus, Namis, Nonis
c. 873unknownIdwalAlso known as Etwal, Doythwall
unknownc. 906Asser
c. 906unknownArthwaelAlso known as Arthfael, Arthmail, Arthvael, Alhuael, Arthuael
unknownSamsonAlso known as Sampson
unknownRuelinAlso known as Ruclinus
unknownRhydderchAlso known as Rodherich; as Riderch, placed c. 945–c. 965 after Bishop Morfyw in the Annals of Wales (B text)[6]
unknownElwynAlso known as Elguni
unknownc. 944Llunwerth IIAlso known as Lunverd, Lumberth, Lywarch, Luvert
c. 944c. 945MorfywAlso known as Morbiw, Morcleis, Morlei
c. 945c. 946EneurisAlso known as Everus or Eueuris
c. 946unknownNathan
unknownIeuanAlso known as Jevan, Evan, &c. In office for one night.
unknownArwystlAlso known as Argustel
unknownc. 999Morgeneu IAlso known as Morgenveth, Morgeney, Uregeneu
c. 999c. 1023Morgeneu IIAlso known as Morgynnyd
c. 1023c. 1039ErbinAlso known as Ervin, Heurun, Hernun, Herbin
c. 1039c. 1055TrahaearnAlso Tramerin, Carmerin
c. 1055c. 1063JosephAlso Joseff
c. 1063c. 1071BleiddudAlso Beithyd, Bledud, Bleddud
c. 1071c. 1076SulienAlso Sulghein, Sulgenius. Resigned.
c. 1076c. 1078AbrahamKilled.
c. 1078c. 1085SulienRestored.
c. 1085c. 1096RhigyfarchAlso known as Rythmarch, Rikemarth. Composed influential Life of St. David. Possibly never consecrated.
c. 10961115WilfridAlso known as Griffri
1115(Daniel)Also known as Deiniol. Elected but set aside; became Archdeacon of Powys instead.
Source(s):[7][8][9]

Suffragan bishops

Pre-Reformation Bishops of St. Davids Suffragan to Canterbury
From Until Incumbent Notes
1115c. 1147BernardChancellor to Queen Adelize; made suffragans of Canterbury; consecrated 19 September 1115; possibly died 22 April 1148
c. 11471176David FitzGeraldPreviously Archdeacon of Cardigan; consecrated bishop 19 December 1147 or 1148; died 8 May 1176
11761198Peter de LeiaPreviously Prior of Wenlock; consecrated bishop 7 November 1176; died 16 July 1198
11991203(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 c. 1223
12031214Geoffrey de HenlawAlso known as Geoffrey of Hennelawe; nominated in July 1199, but not consecrated until 7 December 1203; died in office
12151229IorwerthAlso known as Gervase; elected before 18 June and consecrated 21 June 1215; died before 27 January 1229
12301247Anselm le GrosAlso 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
12481256Thomas WallensisAlso 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
12561280Richard CarewElected after 4 August 1255; consecrated sometime between 11 February 10 March 1256; died 1 April 1280
12801293Thomas BekAlso known as Thomas Beck, Thomas Becke; elected before 17 June and consecrated 6 October 1280; died 14 April 1293
12961328David MartinAlso known as David Martyn; elected in June 1293; received possession of the temporalities 11 October 1293; consecrated 30 September 1296; died 9 March 1328
13281347Henry GowerElected 21 April 1328; received possession of the temporalities 26 May 1328; consecrated 12 June 1328; died before 4 May 1347
13471349John of ThoresbyAppointed 23 May 1347; received possession of the temporalities 14 July 1347; consecrated 23 September 1347; translated to Worcester 4 September 1349
13501352Reginald BrianAppointed 11 September 1349; received possession of the temporalities 15 January 1350; consecrated 26 September 1350; translated to Worcester 22 October 1352
13531361Thomas FastolfAppointed 22 October 1352; received possession of the temporalities 4 June 1353; died in June 1361
13611389Adam HoughtonAppointed 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
13891397John GilbertTranslated from Hereford; received possession of the temporalities 12 July 1389; died 28 July 1397
13971407Guy MoneAppointed 30 August and consecrated 11 November 1397; also was Lord High Treasurer in 1398; died 31 August 1407
14081414Henry ChicheleConsecrated 17 June 1408; translated to Canterbury 27 April 1414
14141415John CatterickAppointed 27 April and received possession of the temporalities 2 June 1414; translated to Coventry and Lichfield 1 February 1415
14151417Stephen PatringtonAppointed 1 February and consecrated 9 June 1415; received possession of the temporalities 16 June 1514; translated to Chichester 15 December 1417
14171433Benedict NicholsTranslated from Bangor 15 December 1417 and received possession of the temporalities 1 June 1418; died in office 25 June 1433
14331442Thomas RodburnAlso known as Thomas Rudborne and Redebourne;[10] 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
14421446William LyndwoodAppointed 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
1447John LangtonAppointed 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
14471460John De la BerePreviously Dean of Wells; appointed 15 September and received possession of the temporalities 14 November 1447; consecrated 19 November 1447; resigned before 23 July 1460
1460c. 1481Robert TullyPreviously a monk at Gloucester Abbey; appointed 23 July and consecrated after 28 August 1460; died circa 1481
14821483Richard MartynAlso 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
14831485Thomas LangtonFormerly 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
14851496Hugh PavyPreviously 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
14961504John MorganAlso 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
15051508Robert SherbornePreviously 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
15091522Edward VaughanFormerly Prebendary of St Paul's, London; appointed 13 June and consecrated 22 July 1509; died in office before 27 January 1522
15231536Richard RawlinsPreviously 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
Source(s):[7][8][9][11]

Bishops during the Reformation

Bishops of St Davids during the Reformation
From Until Incumbent Notes
15361548William BarlowFormerly Bishop-elect of St Asaph; elected Bishop of St Davids 10 April and consecrated in June 1536; translated to Bath & Wells in 1548
15491554Robert FerrarConsecrated 9 September 1548; deprived by Queen Mary in March 1554; burned at the stake 30 March 1555
15541559Henry MorganPrincipal of St Edward's Hall, Oxford; consecrated 1 April 1554; deprived by Elizabeth I in the summer of 1559; died 23 December 1559
Source(s):[8][9][12]

Post-Reformation bishops

Bishops of the Church of England

Bishops of St Davids
From Until Incumbent Notes
15601561 Thomas Young Previously Chancellor of St Davids; consecrated 21 January 1560; translated to York 25 February 1561
15611581 Richard Davies Translated from St Asaph 21 May 1561; died in office in October or November 1581
15821592 Marmaduke Middleton Translated from Waterford and Lismore 30 November 1582; deprived circa 1590–1592; died in exile 1593
1590/921594See vacant
15941615 Anthony Rudd Previously Dean of Gloucester; consecrated bishop 9 June 1594; died in office 7 March 1615
16151621 Richard Milbourne Previously Dean of Rochester; consecrated bishop 9 July 1615; translated to Carlisle in 1621
16211627 William Laud Previously Dean of Gloucester; consecrated bishop 18 November 1621; translated to Bath & Wells 18 September 1626
16271635 Theophilus Feild Translated from Llandaff 12 July 1627; translated to Hereford 23 December 1635
16351646 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
16461660The see was abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate[13][14]
16601677 William Lucy Previously Rector of Highclere; consecrated bishop 2 December 1660; died in office 4 October 1677
16771683 William Thomas Previously Dean of Worcester; consecrated bishop of St Davids in early 1678; translated to Worcester 27 August 1683
16831686 Laurence Womock Previously Archdeacon of Suffolk; consecrated bishop 11 November 1683; died in office 12 March 1686
16861687 John Lloyd Previously Principal of Jesus College, Oxford; consecrated bishop 17 October 1686; died in office 1687
16871699 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
16991705See vacant
17051710 George Bull Previously Archdeacon of Llandaff; consecrated bishop 29 April 1705; died in office 17 February 1710
17101713 Philip Bisse Consecrated bishop 19 November 1710; translated to Hereford 16 February 1713
17131723 Adam Ottley Previously Archdeacon of Salop and Prebendary of Hereford; consecrated bishop 15 March 1713; died in office 3 October 1723
17241731 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
17321743 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
17441752 The Hon Richard Trevor Previously a Canon of Windsor; consecrated bishop 1 April 1744; translated to Durham 7 December 1752
17521761 Anthony Ellys Formerly Prebendary of Gloucester; consecrated bishop 31 March 1753; died in office 16 January 1761
17611766 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
17661774 Charles Moss Previously Archdeacon of Colchester; consecrated bishop 30 November 1766; translated to Bath & Wells 2 June 1774
17741779 The Hon James Yorke Previously Dean of Lincoln; consecrated bishop 26 June 1774; translated to Gloucester 2 August 1779
17791783 John Warren Previously Archdeacon of Worcester; consecrated bishop 19 September 1779; translated to Bangor 9 June 1783
17831788 Edward Smallwell Consecrated bishop 6 July 1783; translated to Oxford 15 April 1788
17881793 Samuel Horsley Formerly Prebendary of Gloucester; consecrated bishop 11 May 1788; translated to Rochester 7 December 1793
17941800 The Hon William Stuart Previously Canon of Christ Church, Oxford; consecrated bishop 12 January 1794; translated to Armagh in 1800
18011803 Lord George Murray Nominated bishop 20 December 1800 and consecrated 11 February 1801; died in office 3 June 1803
18031825 Thomas Burgess Prebendary of Durham; nominated bishop 25 June consecrated 17 July 1803; translated to Salisbury 17 June 1825
18251840 John Jenkinson Nominated bishop 18 June and consecrated 24 July 1825; died in office 6 or 7 July 1840
18401874 Connop Thirlwall Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; nominated bishop 23 July and consecrated 9 August 1840; resigned 16 June 1874; died 27 July 1875
18741897 Basil Jones Consecrated bishop 24 August 1874; died in office 14 January 1897
18971920 John Owen Consecrated 1 May 1897.
Source(s):[8][9][15][16]

Bishops of the disestablished Church in Wales

Bishops of St Davids
From Until Incumbent Notes
19201926 John Owen The Church in Wales was disestablished in 1920. Died in office 4 November 1926
19261950 David Prosser Consecrated 2 February 1927; also was Archbishop of Wales 1944–1949; died in office 28 February 1950
19501956 William Havard Translated from St Asaph; elected 30 March 1950; died in office 17 August 1956
19561971 John Richards Consecrated 30 November 1956; resigned 31 March 1971
19711981 Eric Roberts Elected 21 April and consecrated 1 June 1971; resigned 30 September 1981
19811991 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
19911995 Ivor Rees[17] Elected in 1991 (consecrated as assistant bishop in 1988); retired in 1996.
19962001 Huw Jones Formerly Assistant Bishop of St Asaph; enthroned in St Davids Cathedral in 1996; retired as bishop at the end of 2001
20022008 Carl Cooper Previously Archdeacon of Merioneth; elected and consecrated in 2002; resigned 29 April 2008
20082016 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
20162023 Joanna Penberthy Confirmed 30 November 2016;[18] consecrated 21 January 2017;[19] retired 31 July 2023[20]
2023present Dorrien Davies Previously Archdeacon of Carmarthen; elected 17 October 2023; confirmed 29 November; consecration scheduled for 27 January 2024[2]
Source(s):[8][9][21]

Assistant bishops

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.[22] Rees was elected diocesan bishop after Noakes' retirement.

References

  1. ↑ "Canon Joanna Penberthy elected Wales' first woman bishop". BBC News. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 "New Bishop of St Davids elected". Church in Wales. 17 October 2023. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  3. ↑ J. Wyn Evans, 'David (d. 589/601)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
  4. ↑ Rhygyvarch's Life of St David. A.W. Wade-Evans's (Ed.) sections, 48, 53
  5. ↑ David Walker, 'Bernard (d. 1148)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
  6. ↑ Annals of Wales (B text), p. 10.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 St Davids Cathedral: "Past Bishops & Deans of St Davids". Accessed 16 March 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Historical Successions: St. Davids". Crockford's Clerical Directory. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  10. ↑ 1446, Common Pleas records; 6th entry (starting Thomas Ive), on line 4 in http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT1/H6/CP40no740/bCP40no740dorses/IMG_2043.htm
  11. ↑ Fryde et al. (1986), pp. 297–298
  12. ↑ Fryde et al. (1986), p. 298
  13. ↑ Plant, David (2002). "Episcopalians". BCW Project. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  14. ↑ King, Peter (July 1968). "The Episcopate during the Civil Wars, 1642-1649". The English Historical Review. Oxford University Press. 83 (328): 523–537. doi:10.1093/ehr/lxxxiii.cccxxviii.523. JSTOR 564164.
  15. ↑ Fryde et al. (1986), pp. 298–299
  16. ↑ 19th-Century Bishops of the Church of England Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 18 March 2010.
  17. ↑ Shipmate Bishop Ivor Rees Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine. Royal Naval Association Gallery. Retrieved on 18 March 2010.
  18. ↑ Church in Wales — Election of Wales’ first woman bishop is confirmed Archived 2017-01-06 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 5 January 2017)
  19. ↑ "New Bishop of St Davids elected". churchinwales.org.uk. The Church in Wales. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  20. ↑ "Bishop of St Davids to retire". Church in Wales. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  21. ↑ Fryde et al. (1986), p. 299
  22. ↑ "New Welsh bishop". Church Times. No. 6534. 25 March 1988. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 22 February 2022 – via UK Press Online archives.

Bibliography

Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.

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