Home   

Notable Churches in and around Llanelli

The information in this section is an edited version taken from Llanelli - Birth of a Town a CdRom by William and Benita Rees

Parish Priests, Endowments & Tithe Holders

of Llanelli Parish Church in the Deanery of Kidwelly

600AD St Elli is believed to have lived around this time and the Parish Church is dedicated to the favourite disciple of St Cadoc of Llancarfan.

1066 The first references to Llanelly were made in Liber Landavensis where parish priests at the time of the Norman conquest were in rotation, Umel, Uchdryd, Jonas, Gwasdwyn, Aeddan.

1100 Llanelli Church was attached to a Benedictine Priory that was founded at Kidwelly around this time. [According to the Oxford Dictionary of Saints, St Benedict’s dates were c. 480-c. 550 but in Wales many religious houses predated the Benedictine rule. Citeaux Abbey was the home of the Cistercian order which was founded much later after the Norman invasion in 1098.]

The tower of Llanelli Parish Church was built some time in the 12th century.

1188 Archbishop Baldwin and Giraldus Cambrensis passed Llanelli on their journey westward preaching the Crusade.

1282 The advowson (living) of ‘Llannethy’ was mentioned as passing to King Edward I, which had been in the hands of Patrick de Cardurciis in 1282-1283, and the value of the living was assessed at 80 marks.

1291 A general taxation of the kingdom was carried out by order of Pope Nicholas IV around 1291, in which the Ecclesia de Llanetly was valued at £10. It was considered that an income of £10 or £20 was an adequate estate for a gentleman.

1298 Patrick de Chaworth’s infant daughter Matilda had been betrothed to Henry 1st Duke of Lancaster in 1291 and during her minority Edmund (Crouchback) Earl of Lancaster administered her estates which included Llanelli. Henry and Matlida married in 1298.

1360 Llanelli Church is mentioned in the Inquisitions Port Mortem as in the Duchy of Lancaster and worth £10 per annum.

1369 The Lancastrian connection continued and the Duchy of Lancaster passed to John of Gaunt when his wife Blanche died of the plague aged 22 years.

Note An interesting point is that Charles Nevill can trace his family tree back to Joan of Gaunt, daughter of John of Gaunt (Ghent) by his mistress Catherine Swynford, who later became his wife. When ‘Llanelthe’ passed into the Duchy of Lancaster, the tithes were appropriated by John of Gaunt to the Collegiate Church of Saint Mary’s, Leicester, which probably supplied Llanelli Parish Church and its chapels-of-ease. Another point of interest is that the tithes of the parish could not be appropriated without the consent of the bishop. It was Bishop Adam Houghton who appears to have allowed the Collegiate Church to gain possession of the tithes.

1399 The Duchy of Lancaster, which included Llanelli, passed to the Crown when Henry Bolingbroke (son of John of Gaunt and his wife Blanche) became Henry IV of England.

1520 In the years before the Reformation Welsh church services were similar to those held in other Catholic churches of the time. In an ordinary parish church there were two or three Masses every day with the last ‘Parochial Mass’ on Sunday being the ‘High Mass.

1535 The Valor Ecclesiasticus made in 1535 valued the living at £6 6s 8d. Circa 1535 Lewis David was vicar of Llanelli

1536 At the time of Henry VIII Llannon and Llangennech were chapelries of Llanelli and dependent on their mother church of Llanelli. There were also lesser chapels or oratories, including St John’s, at Pontyberem, St David’s at Llwynhendy, St Dyddgen’s at Hengoed and Gwynllyw at Westfa. The Parish was divided into four hamlets which had their own place of worship as well as the mother church.

1539 The Reformation engineered by Henry VIII and his ministers brought about the dissolution of monasteries and religious foundations. Catholicism was no longer the state religion which had a profound affect on many parts of Wales. It is not known if Henry’s Commissioners made an inventory at this time, but it is known that the vicar of Llanelli was Lewis David.

1552 Commissioners appointed by Edward VI (Henry VIII’s son) made a ‘just viewe, survey and inventorie of all maner of Goods, Plate, Jewells, Vestyments, Bells, and other Ornaments within every parisshe.’

The following is an extract for Llanelli:

Llan ellye ) In pmis ij chalyces;

Cu’ capell’) It’m iiij belles great and small

It’m, a chalyce in the hands of H’oll Harry Nycholas, which he bought apon his own costes and charges, to g’ve the chaple of Saynt John annexed to the said p’she

It’m in the chaple of Saynt Diddgye one chalyce

It’m in the chaple of Saynt D’D a chalyce

It’m a chalyce in the chaple of Saynt Gwnlei

It’m a bell there

The church had probably been stripped of every Popish’ adornment and the above list most likely followed other local treasures to the royal melting pot.

It can be seen that at the time of the Commission’s enquiry into Church furniture the four chapels had their own chalice – Howell Harry Nicholas having bought a chalice for St John’s at his own expense.

1552 By this time the church services had been ‘reformed’ which were administered by local priests.

1586 November 23. John Lloyd instituted Vicar of Llanelli

1590 The tithes of the parish church continued to be held by the Crown and during Elizabeth I’s reign she granted them to Sir John Perrott.

1594 When Sir John was attained for high treason the tithes passed to his widow, Lady Dorothy.

1608 November 8. Richard Lloyd instituted Vicar of Llanelli. From this date to 1663 the Bishops’ Certificates were lost.

1609 Gerrard Bromley made a survey of the possessions of the Honour or Lordship of Kidwelly, as part of the Duchy of Lancaster, in the seventh year of James I (1609). The tithes were in the possession of the Earl of Northumberland.

1620 In the 18th year of the reign of James I, Henry Earl of Northumberland was said to be the’parsonne’ (lay owner of the tithes having no spiritual authority) of ‘Llanellye’, together with the Chapples thereunto annexed, and Sir Richard Lloyd as vicar. During the reign of James I the tithes were sold to Philips and Moore who were said to be large purchasers of tithes. Troubled times followed and from this time until after the Restoration of Charles II there were no surviving church records. It is not known whether the Puritan reformers under Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard Cromwell, caused damage or loss to the church.

1683 The church was probably restored around this time, indicated by a pillar that was found, bearing the date 1683, before renovations started in 1845.

1684 Parish Registers date from this time which improved the situation at Llanelli and was probably due to the growing influence of the Vaughan family.

1690 December 23. Roger Prosser on presentation of King William and Queen Mary was Vicar of Llanelli ‘ratione Ducatus Lancastriae’.

1696 Roger Prosser died and was buried in the churchyard. Following the death of the Vicar on August 27 Lewis Nicholas was instituted as Vicar of Llanelli on presentation of the Duke and Duchess of Somerset to whom the advowson had passed.

1697 Maria Prosser, Vicar Roger Prosser’s wife, died.

1700 At the beginning of the 18th century the benefice had not received any external assistance and its value was put at £27 6s 8d. It obviously had an appreciable income from its own resources.

1703 Four entries in the parish registered from 1703-1708 relate to Jocosa wife and Johannes Guilielmus and Edwardus, sons of L Nicholas. Probably the wife and sons of the vicar.

1704 A fund called ‘Queen Anne’s Bounty’ was established on Queen Anne’s 39th birthday when she set up an initial fund of £16,000 a year to help support the poorer members of the clergy, many of whom had livings of less than £10 a year. This Bounty represented a redistribution of minor church taxes such as ’tenths’ and ’first fruits’ which had previously been given to selected royal pensioners.

1710 February 7, Benjamin Lloyd instituted as Vicar of Llanelli and Llangennech on the presentation of the Duke and Duchess of Somerset. It is possible that he was one of the Lloyds of Llangennech but it is not known for sure.

1734 Benjamin Lloyd died around 1734. On March 28th Richard Davies was Vicar of Llanelly on presentation of Duke of Somerset.

1741 Richard Davies died and was buried in the churchyard. July 28th Revd James Pinaud on presentation of the most Noble Prince Charles Duke of Somerset was instituted as Vicar of Llanelli. During his time as vicar the calendar changes were made from the old style to the new style. Shortly afterwards laws were passed to ensure that accurate registers of marriage were kept. The Revd Pinaud kept meticulous records during his incumbency.

1748 Anne Lloyd, Vicar Benjamin Lloyd’s widow, died aged 60.

1753 Application was made for funding from Queen Anne’s Bounty Fund and an initial grant of £200 was made to meet a similar amount from the Marquis of Granby who was the current impropriator.

1754 From this time there is an unbroken record of marriages solemnised in the parish church. Vicarage House, which was a small cottage, stood to the north west of the church.

1761 For 6 months following the death of the Revd Pinaud, Llanelli did not have a vicar and the curate, John Jones, tended to the spiritual needs of the parish.

The legal limit for the institution of a vicar was fast approaching and the bishop appointed the Revd Theophilus Davies.

1763 Reference was made to Llanelli Church and its chapels-of-ease.

During the time of Theophilus Davies the following were curates: Joseph Mathews; John Williams; Thomas Maris; William Llewellyn and Daniel Evans.

1785 Revd Evan Davies performed ceremony at the marriage of the Pastor of Capel Als.

1787 May 31. Reverend Theophilus Davies died aged 58. His wife Maria was related to the Protheroes of Llandybie and when she died 27 December 1827 aged 89 she was buried in Llandybie Church.

Revd Jeremiah Davies commenced duties at Llanelli on 1st June 1787 but was not instituted until 19 November as Vicar of Llanelli.

1789 The Revd Jeremiah Davies, who is said to have had connections with the Rees Goring Thomas family, came to live at Llanelli on 13 October 1789. The new vicar was said to be an amiable man, tall and slight known as ‘Offeiriad Pattens’ because of his old fashioned footwear. He kept a horse and cow grazing in the churchyard and after market hours he would roam about carrying a lantern searching for coppers that had been dropped earlier in the day. In the vicar’s time the town’s trade began to increase and an extension to the church was undertaken. Revd Jeremiah and his wife had one son Thomas who died before them.

1812 A second grant of £800 was received from Queen Anne’s Bounty Fund followed by a further £200 in 1825 which sums were invested in two farms of Groesfor and Blaenant.

1814 Revd Ebenezer Morris was ordained priest in this year and became perpetual curate of Llannon and Llanddarog. He was Rural Dean, Domestic Chaplain to the Earl of Lisburne and wrote Senex and Juvenis on the Church.

1820 When Revd Jeremiah Davies died his widow married Mr Stephens of Gelly Fawr. The Cambrian of 20 May 1820 reported on his death: ‘On Thursday night at Llanelly the Revd Jeremiah Davies at the age of 69, Vicar of that parish.’

The Revd Jeremiah Davies was succeeded by Ebenezer Morris who was presented by Rees Goring Thomas on December 20 1820. Described as a striking preacher and a remarkable man he had previously been the perpetual curate of Llannon and Llanddarog. During his incumbency the church was restored, St Paul’s became a separate parish, the new church cemetery was opened and the National Schools were built. He married three times.

1831 The Ecclesiastical Revenues Report of 1831 showed that the income had risen to £96 which was probably as a result of the shrewd investment of the Queen Anne’s Bounty Fund money.

1867 The Revd Ebenezer Morris died on April 18 1867 aged 77 and a memorial to him can be seen in the parish churchyard.

David Williams was born at Troedyrharn, Brecon, educated at Lampeter, DD (Doctor of Divinity), Professor of Welsh at Lampeter, parish priest 1849, rector of Llanedy 1854. He married Mary Nevill, daughter of the late Richard Janion Nevill in 1857. He was presented to Llanelli by Rees Goring Thomas on September 17 1867. During his incumbency he made many ecclesiastical alterations and improvements. Described as a saintly and scholarly man, he died on May 17 1890 and was buried at Old Road Cemetery on May 22 1890. His widow Mary (Nevill) Williams survived him.

1890 J L Meredith, who was educated at Ystradmeurig and Oxford gaining MA in 1877, became a priest in 1869, vicar of Towyn, Abergele, 1873, Gelligaer, 1880 and instituted by the Bishop of St David’s to Llanelli on September 8 1890.