St David Llanwrtyd

 

St David was the church I had wanted to visit and drove out of Llanwrtd Wells up into the hills to visit. It stands in some really stunning countryside.

"St David Llanwrtyd was the original parish church the village further down the valley came about in the 19th century after the discovery of springs that  brought about the spas that developed in the area. The church was founded in the 6th century  The present building is mainly 14th-century and 16th-century, although parts wererestored in 1861/2 and 1935. The church formerly had a rood screen and loft as is evidenced by the surviving mural stair in the south wall of the nave. The only medieval furnishing in the church is the 14th or 15th-century font.
The church contains a cross-carved grave-marker, probably of the 8th or 9th century"

St David from the car park across road

The path takes you to the church through the churchyard

Looking down hill you see the church is built into the hillside

Looking down on the west end low down is a blocked window

The north side

Looking north west from the east end

Looking south west from the east end

South view of the church, note the small lancet in the section that sticks out slightly

looking north the headstones at the west end of the churchyard

For the size of the church there are an amazing amount of monuments in the churchyard

Here we look east along the south side of the churchyard

 A fenced family plot and headstones at the west end of the church

You cannot help come across chest tombs and fenced family graves in the churchyard

The north side churchyard extends quite away

This monument with the angel on was one which stood out to me

Across the road from the church is the new churchyard for the area

There were some nice headstones there

 

This one really stood out for me

I did not take a photo of the porch outside but this is how it looks inside

With a fare few memorials on the wall of those who wanted to be remembered

Inside the church is quite light, it would need to be as there are no lights other than candles

Looking to the back with a statue in front of a blocked window

from the back looking down the church

Another view of the nave

Inside the chancel

Altar and east window

This has to be one of the nicest altar cloths I've seen in a while

There is even a covering on the lectern

Looking back through the church

Pulpit and one of the candelabras the pulpit looks very Victorian

Giving quite a view of the church

Pictures you can see in the church

A couple of memorials and a picture of the Madonna and Child

Candelabra and a cast iron wood burning heater

Wonderful carving of Saint David

Closer shot of the head and dove

Candelabra in one of the windows and the only one with coloured glass

Organ down the front of the church

The organ and lectern

There is a hand written list of the former priests of the church

Along the south side wall is this entrance

Inside stares leading up, the opening on the side is the one I said to note in a previous picture of the outside. This would have lead to a rood loft but there is nothing to show where it was inside the church, I did think of going up but left it. You can see roof joists at the top so that might have been the exit which looks like it is in the nave over the chancel arch

At the back another organ and a chest

The font which is 14th of 15th century though the base looks later

I would think this 8th or 9th century grave marker is the oldest I have come across

Small statue of St David

I will leave you this photo of the east window and altar cross looking out over the hillside.

Till next time I wish you all a wonderful weekend

St James Llanwrtyd Wells

 

 The only reason for this church which I can find no history on is that it was built to service the Spa Village that sprung up in the area in Victorian times it replaced the more interesting church further outside the village. The church itself is reminiscent of many Victorian built churches some of which I find rather uninspiring, but as they say never judge a book by it's cover. The church was one of the last churches I need to visit in from the late Phill Jones website Churches of the Builth Wells Area

 

The church from the road I parked along

 

The west end, the path takes you to a small church office

 

Going around to the east end

 

View of the east end from across the road

 

The north side looking west. There is no churchyard to look around as the cemetery is opposite the old church outside town

 

As you come in the door

 

From the back

 

Chancel arch

 

Rood screen

 

Chancel

 

Altar & east window

 

East window

 

The Altar

Altar cross

 

 

 

 View back from the rood screen

 

Pulpit which I am glad to see is wood

 

Looking down to the rows of chairs which replaced the pews

 

Apart of the east window there are a couple more windows with some nice stained glass in them 

 

This one has a Madonna and Child with a couple of angels on the sill 

 

Collage showing the angels and Madonna 

 

There are more angels on  the screen around the altar, these are on one side

 

Banners in the church, the top one shows the history surrounding the village 

 

Font with cover

 

I can only think this is a Victorian jug that is used for christenings, I've not see one like this before

 

 

Rood cross

 

I could not see a roll of Honour in the church only this memorial on the right. I've seen a few baptismal rolls this one has run out of space. The picture is of St David whicd seems out of place in a church called St James

 

I will leave you with the teddy and his friend who were looking after the church.

Till next time I wish you all a peaceful weekend