St Justinian's Chapel

The chapel dedicated to St Justinian is found in a beautiful cove two miles west of St David's, overlooking the lifeboat station and Ramsey Island.

St Justinian was a 6th Century missionary who came from Brittany and left there after being commanded by God to withdraw from the world. He set sail in a coracle to Ramsey Island, where he established a cell and lived as a hermit. He later became a friend, teacher and associate of St David's.

The chapel was built in the 14th Century on the site of a much older shrine and was restored in the early 16th Century by Bishop Vaughan. Although the existing building is now roofless, the overall structure is still intact. However, there is nothing remaining of the original artifacts of interior decoration.

There are many legends associated with St Justinian. One suggests that St Justinian was murdered on Ramsey Island when his harsh regime became impossible to bear, his followers cut off his head. St Justinian then managed to swim to the mainland clutching his own head, and came ashore at St Justinian's Point, the spot where he wanted to be buried. Through divine retribution, the murderers contracted leprosy and were banished to an outcrop off Ramsey Island known as Leper's Rock.

Another legend tells that in the 6th Century, Ramsey Island was joined to the mainland by a narrow causeway of rock, leading to the saint being continuously interrupted from his devotions by numerous visitors. Unable to endure this anymore. he prayed that the land-bridge be broken. His prayers were answered, and the rocks fell into the sea. All that remains of the casueway is a treacherous reef called the Bitches.