Welcome to the Order of St David of Wales

What does it mean to live a holy life in the modern world? St David of Wales answered that question not with a treatise, but with a life... a life of simplicity, faithful prayer, compassionate service, and deep joy. His final words to his monks remain among the most quietly radical in the whole Christian tradition: "do the little things, with love, with constancy, with your whole heart".

The Order of St David exists because that vision is as urgently needed today as it was in sixth century Wales. We are a dispersed community of consecrated faithful, formed by a Rule of Life that draws on the Celtic monastic tradition and the enduring rhythms of St Benedict. Our members live inn the world, but are not shaped by it.

We do not ask you to join us today. We ask you first to explore, to pray, and to listen. Come and see.

Most Rev Felix Gibbins OSD, Prior General

Companions for the Journey

The Order offers three publications to support your spiritual journey, including the Rule of St David. Together they provide gentle guidance, practical wisdom, and nourishment for a life rooted in prayer and service.

The Rule of St David

The Rule of Life of the Order of St David sets forth the spiritual and practical framework by which members seek holiness in the midst of ordinary life. Rooted in the Celtic tradition of Dewi Sant and enriched by the Benedictine spirit, it offers a practical guide to prayer, simplicity, and faithful service for the modern world.

Living the Rule of St David

Living the Rule of St David accompanies members through the order's rule chapter by chapter, offering reflection, commentary, and practical guidance for daily life. It is a companion for the journey, helping members to understand not merely what the Rule asks, but why, and how its ancient wisdom speaks to the challenges of contemporary discipleship.

Pathway of Prayer introduces members and enquirers to the contemplative heart of the Order. Drawing on Celtic spirituality, Benedictine tradition, and the riches of the wider Christian heritage, it guides the reader step by step into a deeper life of prayer, attentiveness to God, and the discovery of what the Celtic saints called the thin places.

A Pathway of Prayer

Living the Rule of St David accompanies members through the order's rule chapter by chapter, offering reflection, commentary, and practical guidance for daily life. It is a companion for the journey, helping members to understand not merely what the Rule asks, but why, and how its ancient wisdom speaks to the challenges of contemporary discipleship.

The Little Hours

Learn About Us

Who We Are

Our members live in their own homes, pursue their ordinary occupations, and gather regularly for prayer, formation, and mutual support. We are a dispersed community united by shared consecration and a common rule of life.

The Davidic Way

St David’s final words have shaped our identity for nearly fifteen hundred years. His call to “do the little things” invites us to find God not in the extraordinary but in the faithful performance of each day’s duties, offered with love and attention.

Is God Calling You?

If you feel drawn to a deeper commitment to prayer, simplicity, and community, the Order of St David may be the spiritual home you have been seeking. We welcome enquiries from anyone who senses that God might be calling them to this way of life.to modern life.

The Mission of the Order

We exist for three reasons: the growth in holiness of our own members; the quiet transformation of the world through faithful Christian presence; and the glory of God, served through prayer, sacrifice, and whatever apostolic work each member is called to in their own life and context.

If any of this speaks to you, we warmly invite you to explore further. Read our Rule of Life, spend time with our charism, and pray about whether God might be calling you to walk this path with us.

Our Rule of Life

The Order draws from two great wells of Christian wisdom. The first is the Celtic monastic tradition of St David, with its emphasis on closeness to creation, joyful simplicity, and the awareness of what the Celtic saints called the thin places -- those moments and spaces where heaven seems very close to earth. The second is the Rule of St Benedict, one of the most enduring guides to Christian life ever written, with its gentle wisdom, its balance of prayer and work, and its call to stability and conversion of life.

Together, these two traditions shape a Rule of Life that is practical, grounded, and suited to people living in the modern world.

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