Next week will mark a special anniversary in St Davids as the city celebrates the a royal pilgrimage.

On Wednesday 29th September 2021 special services and events will be held in the city's Cathedral to mark the 850 years since the pilgrimage by Norman King Henry II 850 years ago in 1171.

The pilgrimage visit took place within a year of the brutal and public murder of Thomas Becket and is recorded in the medieval Welsh annals Brut y Tywysogion / Chronicles of the Princes.

An original copy of Brut y Tywysogion is in the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. By arrangement with the National Library, a digitised version of the entry is on display in the St Davids Cathedral Treasury.

The Dean of St Davids, The Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, said: "The 12th century was an important period in Welsh history, seeing the transition from rule by native princes of Wales to that of the Norman and English monarchy.

"We are delighted to share the history of our cathedral in the medieval period with visitors and pilgrims today.'

Events in the Cathedral to mark the anniversary include:

8.00am - Morning Prayer in St Thomas Becket Chapel. All welcome.

10.30am-11.30am Tour of 12th Century Cathedral.

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Tour of 12th Century St Davids Cathedral, 850 years after Henry II visit. Tickets, Wed 29 Sep 2021 at 10:30 | Eventbrite

The tour continues across the bridge between the Cathedral and the medieval Bishops Palace and joining a no-charge Guided Tour of Bishops Palace by CADW (bookable on CADW website Open Doors - St Davids Bishop's Palace | Cadw (gov.wales) )

12 noon - Solemn Mass for St Michael and All Angels, at Cathedral High Altar.

3.30pm-4.30pm - "What happened here 850 years ago today?"

Rev'd Leigh Richardson, Sub-Dean and Mari James, Library Development Officer.

5pm-6pm - Procession and Solemn Vespers in Cathedral Quire.

Further information is available on the Cathedral website at www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk/discover/library or by emailing to Library@StDavidsCathedral.org.uk