Fine Art Landscape Photography St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales UK

PILGRIM'S PARADISE

Limited Edition Print *

St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales

This is an image of St David’s Cathedral made at dawn and taken from the west side of the Cathedral. The Cathedral is one of the great historic shrines of Christendom: nowhere in Britain is there a more ancient cathedral settlement, for it reaches back fourteen centuries and survived the plunder of the Norsmen in the 'Dark Ages'. Founded as a monastery by Saint David in the 6th century, it was often raided over the ensuing centuries, yet retained its identity as a religions and intellectual centre: in the 9th century King Alfred called upon the monastic community to help with the rebuilding of the intellectual life of the Kingdom of Wessex. In 1081, William the Conqueror visited St David's to pray. In 1090, the Welsh scholar Rhigyfarch wrote Life of Saint David, highlighting David’s sanctity, thus beginning the almost cult-like status he achieved.

In 1115, with the area under Norman control, King Henry I of England appointed Bishop Bernard as Bishop of St David's. He began to improve life within the community, and commenced construction of a new Cathedral. In 1123, Pope Calixtus II granted Bishop Bernard’s request to bestow a Papal “Privilege” upon St David's, making it a centre of pilgrimage for the Western World, the Pope decreeing,
Two pilgrimages to St David's is equal to one to Rome, and three pilgrimages to one to Jerusalem!

The new Cathedral was quickly constructed. Henry II of England’s visit in 1171 saw the following of David increase – and the need for a larger Cathedral. The present Cathedral was begun in 1181, and completed not long after. Problems beset the new building and the community in its infancy; the collapse of the new tower in 1220, and earthquake damage in 1247/48.
Under Bishop Gower (1328–1347, buried in the Cathedral) the Cathedral was modified further, adding the rood screen / pulpitum (the ornate stone partition which divides the nave from the choir), and the Bishop’s Palace (now a picturesque ruin partly visible on the left edge of the image).

The dissolution of the Monarchy and the establishment of the Puritan Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell had great effect on many Cathedrals and Churches, particularly felt in St David's. The Cathedral was all but destroyed by Cromwell’s forces in 1648, and the lead stripped from the Bishop’s Palace roof. The Welsh architect John Nash was commissioned to restore the West Front of the Cathedral in 1793 to repair the damage. His work soon proved to be substandard, and the whole building was restored by George Gilbert Scott between1862-70. Further improvements have been made since. In the 1990s, the British Government decided to re-instate the title of "city" to St David's, and this was followed by a series of projects, including the restoration of the west front, the renovation of the organ, the enlargement of the peal of bells from eight to ten, and the re-building the cloisters as an education centre and refectory.

According to legend, Saint David was born to Saint Non circa 500AD at what is now St Non’s, just south of the city of St David’s. He grew up to become a Welsh Bishop, and was renowned as a teacher and preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches in Wales, Dumnonia (an area centred around Cornwall) and Brittany (north west France). St David's Cathedral stands on the site of the monastery he founded in the 'Glyn Rhosyn' valley in Pembrokeshire. He rose to a bishopric and presided over two synods. Unlike many contemporary 'saints' of Wales, David was officially recognised by the Vatican by Pope Callixtus II in 1120.

David’s best-known miracle is said to have taken place when he was preaching in the middle of a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi: the village of Llanddewi Brefi (Ceredigion, Wales) is said to stand on the spot where the ground on which he stood is reputed to have risen up to form a small hill. A white dove, which became his emblem, and can be seen in some of the stained glass windows in the Cathedral, was seen settling on his shoulder.

The Monastic Rule of David prescribed that monks had to pull the plough themselves without draught animals, must drink only water, eat only bread with salt and herbs, and spend the evenings in prayer, reading and writing. No personal possessions were allowed: even to say "my book" was considered an offence. He lived a simple life and practiced asceticism, teaching his followers to refrain from eating meat or drinking beer. David regularly stood in cold water for long periods, and was nicknamed Dewi Ddyfrwr, David the Water Drinker. His symbol, also the symbol of Wales, is the leek.
It is claimed that David lived for over 100 years, and he died on a Tuesday 1 March (now St David's Day). His last words to his followers were in a sermon on the previous Sunday. Rhygyfarch (son of Sulien, an 11th century Bishop of St David's, and author of the standard Life of Saint David) transcribes these as:

Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.

'Do the little things in life' ('Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd') is today a very well known phrase in Welsh. David was buried at St David's Cathedral, where his shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages. During the 10th and 11th centuries the Cathedral was regularly raided by Vikings who removed the shrine from the church and stripped off the precious metal adornments. In 1275 a new shrine was constructed, the ruined base of which remains to this day in the Cathedral (see map above).

* This image is a Limited Edition Print of 350 for all prints larger than 12"x8".

Location: St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales UK

Fine Art Print :

 
Item added to cart

Fine Art Landscape Photography St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales UK

PILGRIM'S PARADISE

Limited Edition Print *

St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales

This is an image of St David’s Cathedral made at dawn and taken from the west side of the Cathedral. The Cathedral is one of the great historic shrines of Christendom: nowhere in Britain is there a more ancient cathedral settlement, for it reaches back fourteen centuries and survived the plunder of the Norsmen in the 'Dark Ages'. Founded as a monastery by Saint David in the 6th century, it was often raided over the ensuing centuries, yet retained its identity as a religions and intellectual centre: in the 9th century King Alfred called upon the monastic community to help with the rebuilding of the intellectual life of the Kingdom of Wessex. In 1081, William the Conqueror visited St David's to pray. In 1090, the Welsh scholar Rhigyfarch wrote Life of Saint David, highlighting David’s sanctity, thus beginning the almost cult-like status he achieved.

In 1115, with the area under Norman control, King Henry I of England appointed Bishop Bernard as Bishop of St David's. He began to improve life within the community, and commenced construction of a new Cathedral. In 1123, Pope Calixtus II granted Bishop Bernard’s request to bestow a Papal “Privilege” upon St David's, making it a centre of pilgrimage for the Western World, the Pope decreeing,
Two pilgrimages to St David's is equal to one to Rome, and three pilgrimages to one to Jerusalem!

The new Cathedral was quickly constructed. Henry II of England’s visit in 1171 saw the following of David increase – and the need for a larger Cathedral. The present Cathedral was begun in 1181, and completed not long after. Problems beset the new building and the community in its infancy; the collapse of the new tower in 1220, and earthquake damage in 1247/48.
Under Bishop Gower (1328–1347, buried in the Cathedral) the Cathedral was modified further, adding the rood screen / pulpitum (the ornate stone partition which divides the nave from the choir), and the Bishop’s Palace (now a picturesque ruin partly visible on the left edge of the image).

The dissolution of the Monarchy and the establishment of the Puritan Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell had great effect on many Cathedrals and Churches, particularly felt in St David's. The Cathedral was all but destroyed by Cromwell’s forces in 1648, and the lead stripped from the Bishop’s Palace roof. The Welsh architect John Nash was commissioned to restore the West Front of the Cathedral in 1793 to repair the damage. His work soon proved to be substandard, and the whole building was restored by George Gilbert Scott between1862-70. Further improvements have been made since. In the 1990s, the British Government decided to re-instate the title of "city" to St David's, and this was followed by a series of projects, including the restoration of the west front, the renovation of the organ, the enlargement of the peal of bells from eight to ten, and the re-building the cloisters as an education centre and refectory.

According to legend, Saint David was born to Saint Non circa 500AD at what is now St Non’s, just south of the city of St David’s. He grew up to become a Welsh Bishop, and was renowned as a teacher and preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches in Wales, Dumnonia (an area centred around Cornwall) and Brittany (north west France). St David's Cathedral stands on the site of the monastery he founded in the 'Glyn Rhosyn' valley in Pembrokeshire. He rose to a bishopric and presided over two synods. Unlike many contemporary 'saints' of Wales, David was officially recognised by the Vatican by Pope Callixtus II in 1120.

David’s best-known miracle is said to have taken place when he was preaching in the middle of a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi: the village of Llanddewi Brefi (Ceredigion, Wales) is said to stand on the spot where the ground on which he stood is reputed to have risen up to form a small hill. A white dove, which became his emblem, and can be seen in some of the stained glass windows in the Cathedral, was seen settling on his shoulder.

The Monastic Rule of David prescribed that monks had to pull the plough themselves without draught animals, must drink only water, eat only bread with salt and herbs, and spend the evenings in prayer, reading and writing. No personal possessions were allowed: even to say "my book" was considered an offence. He lived a simple life and practiced asceticism, teaching his followers to refrain from eating meat or drinking beer. David regularly stood in cold water for long periods, and was nicknamed Dewi Ddyfrwr, David the Water Drinker. His symbol, also the symbol of Wales, is the leek.
It is claimed that David lived for over 100 years, and he died on a Tuesday 1 March (now St David's Day). His last words to his followers were in a sermon on the previous Sunday. Rhygyfarch (son of Sulien, an 11th century Bishop of St David's, and author of the standard Life of Saint David) transcribes these as:

Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.

'Do the little things in life' ('Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd') is today a very well known phrase in Welsh. David was buried at St David's Cathedral, where his shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages. During the 10th and 11th centuries the Cathedral was regularly raided by Vikings who removed the shrine from the church and stripped off the precious metal adornments. In 1275 a new shrine was constructed, the ruined base of which remains to this day in the Cathedral (see map above).

* This image is a Limited Edition Print of 350 for all prints larger than 12"x8".

Location: St Davids Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales UK

Fine Art Print :

 
Item added to cart