Restoration: Church of St. Brynach, Nevern, Pembrokeshire

NEVERN—The church of St. Brynach, Nevern, Pembrokeshire, is being restored by Mr. Withers, at a cost of £1,500. [Building News 3 April 1863 page 265]

S. BRYNACH NEVERN, PEMBROKSHIRE — Mr. Withers has in hand the restoration of this curious and characteristic low long Pembrokeshire church. Its plan comprises a western tower, a nave with two quasi-transepts towards its eastern end, and a long chancel with two very singular shallow chantries, one on each side, at its western end. In addition to a proper rearrangement of the whole interior, (the two aforesaid chantries being left unoccupied — as an historical record), the windows, roofs, and walls are to be repaired and restored. The tower is a good specimen of the local type, low, massive, buttressed, battening, and embattled. {Ecclesiologist 1862 page 70]

NEVERN, PEMBROKESHIRE. TO BUILDERS - Persons desirous of submitting Tenders for the proposed Restoration and Reseating of the Parish church of Nevern, near Newport, Pembrokeshire, may inspect the Drawings and Specifications on application to Mr David Phillips, schoolmaster, in the village of Nevern, from the 27th inst., to the 12th of February inclusive. Tenders to be delivered by post prepaid, on or before Thursday, the 13th February, addressed to the Architect, Mr R. J. Withers, 51, Doughty-street, London, W.Cj The lowest or any Tender will not necessarily be accepted. Nevern, 23rd January. 1862 [Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser, 31 January 1862 page 1; 7 February 1862 page 3]

PEMBROKESHIRE. RE-OPENING OF NEVERN CHURCH.—On Thursday, the 26th of May, the fine old church of Nevern, dating from the fourteenth century, was re-opened after a thorough restoration by Mr Withers, architect. The cost of the work is over £1,000, £ 100 having been granted by the Church Building Society, and the rest raised by voluntary contribution. The windows are finely cut in Forest of Dean stone, which has also been used in the interior with good effect, especially in the pillar and double arches which separate the Trewern Chapel from the nave The chancel has a fine reredos with three panels; also a memorial window by Messrs Lavers and Barraud. [The Welshman Carmarthen 3 June 1864 page 5]

OFENING OF NEVERN CHURCH.—On Thursday, the 26th of May, the fine old church of Nevern, dating from the fourteenth century, was re-opened after a thorough restoration by Mr Withers, architect. The cost of the work is over £ 1,000— £ 100 having been granted by the Church Building Society, and the rest raised by voluntary contributions. The windows are finely cut in Forest of Dean stone, which has also been used in the interior with good effect, especially in the pillar and double arches which separate the Trewern Chapel from the nave. The chancel has a fine reredos with three panels; also a memorial window by Messrs Lavers and Barraud. Morning Prayers were said in English,and the Venite, De Teum, and Jubilate were efficiently rendered by the parish choir. The Lord Bishop of the Diocese preached an eloquent sermon to a crowded and attentive congregation, from Psalm exxii., 1, 2. The bvmns used were NIK ifii. Trn and 244 from the collection Ancient and Modern.' The 10 afternoon and evening services were conducted in the Welsh language, with two able sermons on each occasion. The festival was prolonged throughout the following day with similar service, when the congregations were even larger than on the previous day. The vast numbers which flocked to Nevern from all parts on this auspicious occasion have cheered the heart of many a Churchman in Wales, and testify to the reviving interest and affection of a religious people for the Church of their forefathers. [Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser3 June 1864 page 2]

Reference    Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser 7 February 1862 page 3- contracts
Reference    Builder 1 March 1862 Page 166 (Tenders)
Reference    Ecclesiologist 1862 page 70
Reference    Building News 3 April 1863 page 265
Reference    The Welshman Carmarthen, 3 June 1864 page 5 – re-opening
Reference    Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser 3 June 1864 page 2 –re-opening
Reference    Church Builder 1864 page 188