Church of St Michael, Whitechurch by Cardigan, (or Eglwyswen), Pembrokeshire

WHITECHURCH.—For rebuilding the Church. Mr R J. Withers, architect: Tenders received Evans and Morgan £853; Thomas and Woodward £785; Jones & Lewis £697; Evans £667; Davies £660; Hughes £660. [Building News 23 February 1872 page 166]

WHITECHURCH, PEMBROKESHIRE—A dilapidated church existing here, it has lately been pulled down, and a new church is being erected on the same site by Mr. Hughes, of Newport, at a cost of £700, exclusive of stone and carriage given gratuitously. Mr. Withers is the architect employed. [Building News 9 August 1872 page 109]

WHITECHURCH - The Church is not built exactly on the same spot as the old one, being about half its width more to the south, and a distance of 12 feet to the west. The interior consists of a chancel 20 feet by 16 feet; and a nave 39 feet by 18 feet; the chancel, communion, and principle aisle being handsomely paved with encaustic tiles. The whole of the seats are made in stained and varnished pine, on the open principle, those in the nave plain, but in the chancel handsomely panelled with monograms at the ends. The communion table and alter railings are plain unvarnished English oak. The lectern, composed of stained and varnished pine, is a splendid piece of workmanship, looking more like a piece of carved walnut wood than what it really is. The pulpit is simple in the extreme, of freestone open work, approached by three steps of the same material; the fount, circular in form, being also of the same material, stands at the west end of the Church facing the entrance, and when complete will be surmounted with a handsome iron work cover. The chancel arch is 10 feet from base to base, the actual curve springing from ornamental cornices of a very neat and graceful design the roof is high and lofty, with opened stained and varnished rafters, meeting the wall plate with an exceedingly neat bead- ing The Church is lighted by 6 windows in the sides, one over the communion table, and one at the west end, the whole being surmounted with arched freestone cornices of a very graceful design. A neat credence is placed on the north side of the communion table. The entrance to the Church is by a very handsome porch on the south side of the building, with stained and varnished roof the pavement being of encaustic tiles the door itself is in keeping with the other portions of the Church, and is richly ornamented with hinges and handles of a most unique and novel design. The old and new dates are placed opposite each other on either wall of the porch, and even now the old date of 1591, although executed nearly 300 years ago, will bear favourable comparison with the more pretentious work of the skilled artisans of 1873. The architect of the new Church is Mr R. J Withers, of London; the contractors and builders being Mr Thomas Hughes, Newport, and others, by whom the work has been carried out in a most satisfactory manner. [The Welshman, Carmarthen, 25 July 1873 page 3]

EGLWYSWEN - The present church was built in lancet style to designs of R. J. Withers in 1872-3. It consists of simple nave and chancel with cusped lancets in pairs, neatly done. It has an ashlar octagonal bell-turret, corbelled out, with punched quatrefoil openings and tiny lucarnes. In the south gabled porch is a reset plaque of 1591. There is a vestry on the north side. The interior was economically designed with fittings which included a bowl font and two-bay ashlar pulpit front modelled without extraneous ornament. A single-light stained-glass window dates from 1956, by Celtic Studios. The church closed in 1999 and by 2003 was in private ownership, although the churchyard was still in use and in ecclesiastical ownership. [Coflein]

Opened         16 July 1873

Reference    Building News 23 February 1872 page 166
Reference    Building News 9 August 1872 page 109
Reference    The Welshman, Carmarthen, 25 July 1873 page 3 - opening