David, or Dewi, was a monk and a bishop in the sixth century. He was reputed to be an exemplar of the ascetic, spiritual life but was also highly regarded for his kindness and compassion to others, particularly the poor and the sick.
He is believed to have founded the monastery at Menevia, now St Davids, and also at least a dozen other monasteries.
He is said to have based his Rule for his monasteries on that of the Egyptian desert monks, with a strong emphasis on hard work, abstinence from alcohol and refraining from unnecessary speech.
He died in about the year 601 and has been regarded as the patron saint of Wales since at least the twelfth century.
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