St Asaph Cathedral

Driven into exile from Strathclyde, St Kentigern arrived at Llanelwy in North Wales and founded a monastery in the second half of the 6th century. When his successor replaced him as bishop in AD573, the church was dedicated to St Asaph, a local saint, and the city also took his name. As no accurate records exist prior to the 12th century, what little is known about this early monastery has been extracted from 'the life of St Kentigern' written in the late 12th century by a monk from Furness Abbey.

During the 13th century building work commenced on a new cathedral, but this was accidentally burnt in 1282. A major rebuilding programme began in 1284, and the external appearance of St Asaph Cathedral shows the various types of stone used. Locally quarried limestone, yellowish sandstone and a purply-red sandstone were randomly incorporated in the walls to give St Asaph Cathedral its distinctive patchwork effect. Some 10 years after completion, St Asaph Cathedral was severely damaged by Owain Glyndwr's troops, and further rebuilding work was undertaken in 1411, although the transepts of the church remained roofless until a later restoration project was commissioned towards the end of the 15th century. No other major building works were instigated until the late 18th century when the Chapter House was demolished, and the choir remodelled. Extensive restoration of St Asaph Cathedral was undertaken by Gilbert Scott during the 19th century that left the cathedral more or less as the visitor sees it today.

Reputedly the smallest cathedral in Britain, St Asaph Cathedral portrays the essence of dignity and restraint, although managing at the same time to be quite beautiful. The church appears deceptively spacious and light considering its relatively moderate proportions, but it is the austere simplicity that accentuates its architectural splendour. A wonderful combination of ancient and modern blends almost naturally and harmoniously together in St Asaph Cathedral, and this can be appreciated in every aspect of the church. Medieval nave pillars, completely unadorned and with no capitals, contrast vividly with the luxurious 19th century oak-ribbed ceiling springing from decorative corbels. Magnificently carved and canopied 15th century choir stalls now stand on richly-coloured floor tiles from the Victorian restoration. At the High Altar is a stunning alabaster reredos set below the large, traceried east window now displaying biblical scenes in modern stained glass panels.

Outside of Wales St Asaph Cathedral in Denbighshire may be little known, but it does have a long history and there is much of interest to be seen. The visitor can learn of the legends surrounding St Kentigern and St Asaph, see the earliest Welsh translation of the Bible by a former Bishop of the cathedral, and find many of the treasures in this lovely church such as the 16th century ivory statue of the 'Spanish Madonna'.