ST. ASAPH CATHEDRAL

Begun in the ^13th century, the Anglican cathedral of St. Asaph(Eglwys Gadeiriol Llanelwy in Welsh) as we see it today was built, for the most part, between 1284 and 1392. The reconstruction of the building was partly financed by donations from pilgrims, many of whom came to worship at this popular site, whose origins are not well known. Stained-glass windows in the north wing illustrate the legend written by the monk Jocelyn, the only "explanation" of the origins of this ^12th-century shrine. Depicted are Saint Kentigern, whose miracle was to discover a gold ring lost by the queen in a salmon he caught, and Saint Asaph. The latter's miracle is said to have been to carry hot iron in his cloak at St. Kentigern's behest, for want of any other means: neither the cloak nor his skin burned.

Literature and legends have always accompanied the history of this church, whose bishops were also eminent men of letters. In 1152, Geoffrey de Monmouth, author of theHistory of the Kings of England, an important work of medieval literature and a benchmark of classical British literature, became bishop of this diocese, followed by William Morgan, translator of the Bible into Welsh! In fact, it was Geoffrey of Monmouth (1100-1154) who gave King Arthur a prominent place in his main work. From that point on, the character's appeal to European literature and culture began.