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[[Image:Stasaph.jpg|right|thumb|140px|Cathedral Window depicting St.Asaph]]

[[Image:Stasaph.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Cathedral Window depicting St.Asaph]]

The city of St Asaph is an important center of connurbation lying between [[Denbigh]] and the coastal resort of [[Rhyl]]. It is situated on the River Elwy, and is home to the smallest cathedral in Britain. St Asaph is often called 'The Gateway City", because of its crucial position guarding the entrance to the heartland of North Wales and Snowdonia. It has a newspaper called 'The St.Asaph City Times' <ref>see [http://www.stasaph.co.uk/Issue74/issue74.html this link to the St Asaph City Times] </ref>, and is home to the highly prestigious St. Asaph International Music Festival <ref>http://www.northwalesmusicfestival.co.uk/</ref>

The city of St Asaph (Welsh name Llanelwy) is an important center of connurbation lying between [[Denbigh]] and the coastal resort of [[Rhyl]]. It is situated on the River Elwy, and is home to the smallest cathedral in Britain. St Asaph is often called 'The Gateway City", because of its crucial position guarding the entrance to the heartland of North Wales and Snowdonia. It citizens are served by a newspaper called 'The St.Asaph City Times' <ref>see [http://www.stasaph.co.uk/Issue74/issue74.html this link to the St Asaph City Times] </ref>, and the ciry plays host to the highly prestigious St. Asaph International Music Festival <ref>http://www.northwalesmusicfestival.co.uk/</ref>

St. Asaph has been an important ecclesiastical centre for centuries, dating back to AD560 when a community was founded by the Scottish saint Kentigern, who left his disciple [[Asaph]] in charge when he returned to Scotland.

St. Asaph has been an important ecclesiastical centre for centuries, dating back to 560 AD when a community was founded by the Scottish saint Kentigern, who left his disciple Asaph in charge when he returned to Scotland. The legend of St. Asaph relates that Queen Nest, once regarded as the most beautiful woman in Wales, was married to Maelgwyn Gwynedd, then King of North Wales. Nest wore on her finger a ring which had been given to her by Maelgwyn: an ancient, sacred ring to be worn only by the Queens of the North. One day, while bathing in the River Elwy beside her home at St. Asaph, she bent down . Bishop Asaph, who was looking out from the bank of the river caught a flash of her ring as she stooped in the water. Nest was caught unawares, that this caused the ring to drop from her finger. Nest was distraught and clung to the Bishop for comfort. The Bishop, known for his way with the ladies, comforted her in ways which caused her to forget the ring. While dining with the couple that evening, the Bishop gently told Maelgwyn what had happened. At first, the King was furious; but his anger was calmed by Asaph who pointed out that love should be valued above personal possessions, however treasured. The king, thus soothed, allowed himself to be comforted his sobbing wife and all the ring and other transgressions were forgotten.

 

Resuming the meal, the trio were served with a portion of a magnificent locally-caught salmon, and as they cut into the flesh, the ring, fell out onto the table. It had travelled full circle: from finger to river to salmon and back home to Nest's finger<ref> For a fuller version of this story see: http://www.stasaph.co.uk/legendf.html</ref>.