St., a city in Flintshire, with a bishop's see; on which account principally it deserves notice, being in itself but a poor place. As a bishopric, it is of great antiquity, and was founded about the year 560, by Kentigern, a Scotman, bishop of Glasgow. He began the church on the banks of the river Elwy, whence it is called by the Welsh Land Elwy, and in Latin Eluenfis. Kentigern returning into Scotland, left a holy man his successor, St Asaph. Who was his successor is uncertain, as there are no records that mention it; and it seems rather probable that the religious settled here had been necessitated to remove to some more peaceable abode, as the country was frequently the seat of war between the English and the Welsh. This see was formerly a very wealthy one; but its revenues were greatly lessened by the profusion of Bishop Parlew, who alienated much of the lands belonging to this bishopric.

This diocese doth not contain any one whole county; but consists of part of Denbigh, Flint (where its church is), Montgomery, and Merioneth shires, and a small part of Shropshire; wherein are 121 parishes, and 131 churches and chapels, most of which are in the immediate patronage of the bishop. This see hath but one archdeaconry, viz. that of St Asaph, which is united to the bishopric, for the better maintenance thereof. This see is valued in the king's books at 187l. 11s. 6d. but computed to be worth annually 1500l. The tenth of the clergy comes to 186l. 19s. 6½d. To this cathedral belong a bishop, a dean, archdeacon, chancellor, &c.