St Asaph Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Asaph Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Church of Saints Asaph and Cyndeyrn | |
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Eglwys Gadeiriol Llanelwy
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St Asaph Cathedral from the north-west
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| 53°15′26″N 3°26′31″W / 53.25722°N 3.44194°W | |
| Location | St Asaph, Denbighshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic Church of England |
| Website | https://stasaphcathedral.wales/en |
| History | |
| Relics held | St Asaph |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Romanesque architecture, English Gothic architecture |
| Completed | Mid-13th century |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | St Asaph |
The Cathedral Church of Saints Asaph and Cyndeyrn, often called St Asaph Cathedral, is a beautiful church in St Asaph, a town in north Wales. It is the main church for the Bishop of St Asaph. This cathedral has a very long history, going back about 1,400 years! The building you see today was mostly built in the 13th century. It is part of the Church in Wales.
Contents
A Look Back: The Cathedral's History
Early Beginnings
A church was first built here in the 6th century. Some say Saint Kentigern built it, while others believe Saint Elwy started it around 560 AD. Later, Saint Asaph (also known as Saint Asa) took over. The city of St Asaph is named after him!
Building and Rebuilding
The oldest parts of the current building are from the 1200s. The first stone cathedral was burned down by soldiers of King Edward I in 1282 during a war. After this, a new building was started.
Later, during the rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr, part of the cathedral was damaged. It stayed in ruins for about 70 years! Most of the building you see now was rebuilt during the time of King Henry Tudor. It was also greatly repaired in the 1800s.
Modern Challenges
In 1930, the cathedral's tower was in the news. It started to sink because of an underground stream! Urgent repairs were needed and completed by 1935.
Important People
Many important people have been connected to St Asaph Cathedral.
- Geoffrey of Monmouth was a bishop here from 1152 to 1155. However, because of war, he probably never actually visited the cathedral!
- William Morgan was a bishop here in the late 1500s. He was the first person to translate the entire Bible into the Welsh language from Greek and Hebrew. His translated Bible is still on display in the cathedral today!
- A. G. Edwards became Bishop of St Asaph in 1889. He later became the very first Archbishop of Wales.
In recent times, the cathedral has faced financial challenges. In 2018, the jobs of the music staff were removed. However, the position of Director of Music was brought back in 2019, and the choir continues to sing for services each week.
The Organ
The cathedral has a large and important organ. You can find details about it on the National Pipe Organ Register, which lists information about organs across the country. The cathedral has had many talented organists over the centuries who have played for services and events.
People Buried Here
Many important people are buried at St Asaph Cathedral or in its churchyard. These include:
- John Owen (bishop of St Asaph), a bishop from 1629 to 1651.
- Isaac Barrow (bishop), a bishop from 1669 to 1680.
- William Mathias, a famous composer (1934–1992).
- William Carey (bishop), a bishop from 1830 to 1846.
- Joshua Hughes, a bishop from 1870 to 1889.
- A. G. Edwards, the first Archbishop of Wales, who was a bishop here from 1889 to 1934.
See Also
- List of deans of St Asaph – a list of the leaders of the cathedral over time.
