What is the Order of St David?

The Order of St David is an institute of consecrated life within the Ancient Apostolic Catholic Church. Established under the authority of the Primatial See, the Order gathers together Catholic men and women who wish to pursue the perfection of charity according to the evangelical counsels whilst remaining fully integrated in the ordinary conditions of the world.

As a secular institute, the Order differs from traditional religious orders in one important respect: its members do not withdraw from the world into monasteries or convents. Instead, they live in their own homes, pursue their professions and family responsibilities, and sanctify those everyday realities from within. Their consecration is real and full, but it is lived out amid the structures of ordinary society.

The Order draws its spiritual heritage from two deep wells of Christian tradition. The first is the Celtic monastic tradition of St David of Wales, whose spirituality of simplicity, joy, and faithfulness in small things gives the Order its distinctive character. The second is the Rule of St Benedict, which has guided souls to God for over fifteen centuries and provides the framework of stability, conversion of life, and obedience within which the Davidic charism is expressed.

Our Place in the Church

The Order is of Primatial right, meaning it is subject directly to the Primatial See of the Ancient Apostolic Catholic Church in matters of internal governance and discipline. It operates as a recognised form of consecrated life within the Church’s canonical structures.

The consecration of a member does not change their canonical standing among the people of God. Lay members remain lay faithful with all the rights and duties of their state. Clerical members retain their incardination in their diocese or religious institute and their primary obedience to their ordinary. Membership in the Order enriches and deepens existing vocations rather than replacing them.

How We Are Governed?

The Order is led by a Prior General (or Prioress General), elected by the General Chapter for a term of six years. The Prior General is assisted by a Council of at least four elected members who advise on matters of governance and must be consulted on major decisions.

The General Chapter is the Order’s supreme deliberative body. It meets every six years to elect leadership, review the state of the Order, and shape its future direction. Between chapters, Regional Groups coordinated by appointed leaders provide local support, fellowship, and formation for members within a particular area.

In all things, the Order remains under the supreme authority of the Primatial See, and all members are bound by their vow of obedience to the Primate as their highest superior.

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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