Church of St. David, Llanllawer, Pembrokeshire

Built on an ancient site, close to the Llanllawer Holy Well and set high above the river Gwayn and the village. The surrounding churchyard is more or less circular and on either side of the entrance gate can be seen incised pillar stones each with a rude cross. A small church in hard Preseli stone, it consists of two-bay chancel, wider two-bay nave, vestry (north of the chancel) south porch and west single bell-cote. Steep single roof and harsh plate tracery in Bath stone.

ST. DAVID, LLANLLAWER, PEMBROKESHIRE, — The old church here is dilapidated and almost roofless, and there has been no clergyman for many years. The parish appears to have a population of 123, and no income whatever. A new clergyman has been appointed: and makes an appeal for help under circumstances almost — we should hope — unparalleled. He says, "It is utterly denuded of internal fittings, and those who attend the service now held there since my institution in May last, have nothings to rest themselves upon but the remains of the Communion Table and rails. All the necessaries for the due celebration of Divine Service, such as books, surplice, bell, and communion plate, are entirely wanting. The Holy Communion has not been known to be administered for twenty years, and the sacrament of Baptism not since February 19th, AD  1837."

For this neglected parish Mr. Withers has designed a small church to hold eighty-four persons, the contract of which has been taken for £400. The material is the local stone, with Bath stone dressings. The style is a good but plain Geometrical Pointed. The plan shows a parallelogram, 50 feet long by 17 feet 2 inches broad, divided internally into nave and chancel by its levels, and externally by buttresses, with a good quadrilateral belfry-cote of wood, surmounted by a pyramidal capping and a weathercock. There is a vestry at the north-east, and a porch at the south-west. The arrangement is very good, with stall -like benches and subsellae in the chancel, and a well-defined sanctuary. The prayers are to be read from the westernmost stall on the south side, which has also a lettern, facing west. The pulpit is at the north of the chancel arch. To have given a good architectural character to so small and humble a building, and yet to have avoided foppery or pretence, is no small credit to the architect. The effect is obtained by good proportion and severe detail. It is a subject for congratulation that the church building and church restoration of the remoter counties of the diocese of S. David's have fallen into such good hands as those of Mr. Withers. We hope that he will find opportunities of displaying his architectural skill in more conspicuous and more remunerative works than these small Welch churches can possibly be. [Ecclesiologist Feb 1859 page 70-71]

No 341. “Parish Church of St. David Llanllawer” as being rebuilt by Mr R J Withers is one of the small Welsh churches, with nave and chancel under one roof and a bell-cot over. The vestry projects on one side, and a porch on the other. [Architectural Exhibition 8 April 1859 page 331]

LLANLLAWEN (PEMBROKESHIRE) - The works at the new church are progressing, and will be roofed in during the summer. The design comprises nave and chancel under one roof, with spirelet at the intersection; south porch and vestry on north side of chancel. The material used is local stone, with Bath stone dressings. All the seats will be open, and uniform throughout. The builder is Mr. James, of Llanychaer; and the architect, Mr. Withers, of London. [Builder 11 June 1859 page 397]

Reference    Ecclesiologist February 1859 page 70-71
Reference    Builder 11 June 1859 page 397
Reference    Buildings of Wales: Pembrokeshire page 255