IN PURSUIT OF SAINT DAVID PATRON SAINT OF WALES by Gerald Morgan

A Digest of Rhygyfarch's Life of St David

49-58) Because of a resurgence of the Pelagian heresy, even after the two visits of Saint Germanus, a Synod was called at Brefi of all the British bishops, with a host of churchmen, kings, princes, laymen and women. But nobody could hear the preaching, so a great pile of clothes was made for the speakers to stand on, but still many could not hear. David's former teacher Paulinus told them to invite David, who was at first, too modest to accept, but was brought by Dyfrig and Deiniol to the place, having first resurrected a widow's dead son, Magna. A cloth was laid on the ground for David to stand on, and the ground rose under him so that all could hear him clearly, and a white dove settled on his shoulder. A church is on that hill now. The heresy was routed, so that all blessed David, and appointed him archbishop, and his monastery an Archbishopric, whoever might govern it. The true decrees of the church were written in his holy hand. There was rejoicing everywhere: David was made bishop, protector, preacher, teacher and almsgiver, and he shone with the glory of miracles. David was granted every possible authority and privilege of immunity with precedence over all as head and prince of all the Britons, until he had reached the age of 147.