DAVID, saint. — Bishop of Menevia (Mynyw in Wales) in the 6th century. In a 10th-century manuscript of the Annales Cambriae, he is said to have died in 601.
The first biography, highly legendary and modelled on the life of St Benedict, was written in the 11th century by Rhygyfarch. According to it, D. was born to a certain Nonna, a nun violated by Sant, prince of Cretica. Having become a monk, he evangelized Britain, founding twelve monasteries there. Having then escaped an attempt by the monks to poison him, he went to Jerusalem, where he was consecrated bishop. On returning to his native land, he succeeded St Dubric in the bishopric of Caerleon, from which he moved to Menevia, exercising great influence on the monastic life of Wales and presiding over several synods. He died at the age of 147. In 966 his body was transferred to Glastonbury; he was canonized by Callisto II in 1120. Feast day: 1 March.