Introduction Christian worship has taken place in Gower over a period of
fifteen hundred years. Many of our churches, some of which are seven
hundred years old, probably stand where earlier, simpler structures
of the Celtic period existed. The dedication of churches to Celtic
saints and the existence of sculptured and lettered stones of great
antiquity reinforce evidence in the Book of LIandaff, where places
in Gower, mentioned in sixth century records, can still be identified.
For centuries, these Gower churches were the focal point of small
rural communities. today, too few people appreciate their beauty.
Whether your interest is in architecture, history, woodcarving, stained
glass, war memorials, graves of the famous or of ordinary people,
please come and see our churches for yourself. Children are welcome
and wherever possible, activities will be offered for them.
1 : Bishopston, St
Teilo's Church The site probably dates from 480 AD in one of the W~earliest Christian
settlements in Wales. In those days a simple thatched chapel probably
stood in a 'Llan' (a fenced enclosure).
The stone building originates from the 12th & early 13th centuries,
the battlement tower being the least altered. However, in recent
years a doorway was cut through the massive wall, from the organ
loft, to give access to the tower room. The tower clock originated
in a Swansea brewery (1886), and the bells are dated 1713 &
1714.
The stone font is 12th century. During repairs to the roof in 1927
the ceiling was removed revealing a fine oak, hammer beam roof built
in the l5th century. Every stained glass window has a story and
interesting features;
St. Teilo's stag is one, a mouse another. The Millennium window
illustrates various places of worship in the village.
Opening Times: key from Winston Hotel,
all year. Groups ring 232140 Back to Top>>
2 : Pennard, St Mary's
Church A church which stood close to Pennard castle and whose remains can
still be seen was besanded and finally abandoned at a later date,
in the early sixteenth century. However, the existing church has
its origins in the thirteenth century so which church pre-dates
the other remains a mystery.
An ancient water stoup serves as a font, with a carved Jacobean
cover. Laudian dog-rails protect the sanctuary and an external window
has early 13th century dog-tooth mouldings.
A beautiful stained glass window, the work of local artists, was
installed to mark the new Millennium. A tablet in the Church is
dedicated to Vernon Watkins and another twentieth century poet,
Harri Webb, is buried in the churchyard.
The Church is open daily until dusk,
all year. Back to Top>>
3 : Penmaen, St John
the Baptist Church The earliest church was nearer the sea. Later, a small W/church
was built on the present site. A medieval tombstone stands in the
porch.
In 1894, the Talbot family had the church rebuilt and refurbished
so it is almost entirely late Victorian.
4 : Nicholaston, St
Niicholas Church The earliest church was nearer the sea. Later, a small W/church
was built on the present site. A medieval tombstone stands in the
porch.
In 1894, the Talbot family had the church rebuilt and refurbished
so it is almost entirely late Victorian.
5 : Oxwich, St Illtyd's
Church The chancel of this church, which stands in woods, W~overlooking
Oxwich Bay, marks the original sixth century Celtic cell. Entry
to the church is through the west door, in the tower.
In a niche in the north wall lie the figures of a knight and his
lady.
Legend suggests that St Illtyd, himself, brought the Sutton Stone
font to Oxwich.
For times open in August see church notice
board outside the Oxwich Bay Hotel. Back to Top>>
6 : Penrice, St Andrew's
Church Not normally open except for services Back to Top>>
7 : Reynoldston, St
George's Church The Patronal dedication name of Reynoldston's Church, W~St. George,
reminds us of the Norman and English influence which predominated
in this part of Wales for much of the last Millennium.
For many centuries a church has stood on the site now occupied by
the current building which dates from the mid-1860's and is a fine
example of Victorian Gothic architecture and includes many examples
of 20th century stained glass, including a three-light east window
designed by Nathaniel Westlake.
One of the early Christian monuments in Gower is a pillar cross
standing near the chancel arch and another feature of the church
is the Norman font that is carved from a single block of stalagmite
Church opening, during August on notice
board on Green or telephone: 391436; 391073; 391310. Back to Top>>
8 : Llanddewi, St David's
Church In its farmyard setting, this ancient church dedicated to St. David
is said to have been built by Henry de Gower, Bishop of St. David's,
1328-1347.
The chancel is not in line with the nave but
inclined to the south as a reminder to worshippers that when Jesus
Christ was crucified, he leant his head to one side. The windows
of plain glass allow fine countryside views. Memorial slabs are
of interest, the oldest to the Rev. Silvanus Prosser, vicar of Llandewi
who died in 1737. The tower at the west end, with its saddle-back
roof, houses a single bell said to be the largest and loudest in
Gower. After restoration in 1876 and again in 1905 the building
re-opened for divine service. Registers date from 1718.
The church is open from Easter to the
end of October. Back to Top>>
9 : Port Eynon, St
Cattwg's Church This seaside village church was founded during the 6th century by
St. Cattwg's missionary to Gower, St. j Cennydd. The present building
dates from the 12th century ; and was given to the Knights of St.
John by Robert de la Mare around 1165. The doorway is Norman, and
the stoup for holy water in the porch is said to have been given
by a j Spanish sea captain in gratitude to his rescuers.
In the south wall of the chancel is a blocked up leper's window
which can be clearly seen from outside the church. In 1861 a gallery
in the nave was removed and the ;west end enlarged to accommodate
the growing population of the parish. There are several stained
glass windows and memorial items of interest to discover in the
church and churchyard. Registers date from 1750.
The church is open from Easter to the
end of October. Back to Top>>
10 : Rhossili, St
Mary's Church This attractive Church is dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, and
was built by Anglo-Norman settlers around the year 1200. It overlooks
the wonderful four-mile sweep of Rhossili Bay and the famous Worm's
Head.
The church is simple in style. The doorway is a fine example of
work of the late Norman period, rare in Wales and unique in Gower.
A scratch dial sundial is on the side of the doorway, showing that
at some time it must have been open to the sky, and may support
the theory that it came from the older church in the sand dunes
below the village, which was excavated in 1980. The nave contains
several stained glass windows, and memorials including one to Petty
Officer Edgar Evans, who died with Captain Scott in the Antarctic
in 1912, and was a Rhossili man. The chancel has a low side or 'lepers'
window, and the churchyard has graves with inscriptions going back
to 1784.
The church is open Easter to the end of October. Adjacent
car park Back to Top>>
11 : Llangennith,
St Cenydd's Church St Cenydd was the original Gower boy who made good. Legend has it
he was born in the sixth century with a withered leg, cast adrift
in a basket on the Loughor estuary, rescued by gulls and reared
by angels. Our local boy grew up to found St. Cenydd's Priory which
accounts for the present building being the largest parish church
in Gower.
The Danes burnt it, but our church survives, dominated by its massive
13th century stone tower with saddleback roof. Now wall-mounted
inside, a carved slab is reputed to have marked the grave of the
saint. Also see the effigy of a De Le Mare knight ('the Dolly Mare').
Folk singer Phil Tanner lies in the churchyard.
On a nice day visit Burry Holms at the north end of Rhossili Bay
where we commemorate St. Cenydd's day each summer on the site of
a wooden Celtic church oratory, the only one found in Wales.
Key at P.J. Surf shop all year. Otherwise
telephone: 386308; 386391. Back to Top>>
12 : Llanmadoc, St
Madoc's Church Dedicated to Madoc, a Celtic saint, who is reputed to 7,~have founded
a church in the 6th century. The 13th century building was restored
in 1865.
Set in the window-sill of the first window is a lettered stone dated
from the 6th century. Discovered in 1861 in the walls of the old
parsonage house it commemorates 'Advenctus son of Guanus'
In the west wall is a crude pillar cross and a boundary marker dating
from the 7th - 9th centuries, whilst the present font is probably
Norman.
Revd. J D Davies, the famous Gower historian, who was a skilled
wood-carver, was Rector of Llanmadoc and Cheriton 1860 - 1911. He
carved the oak altar frontal and led the major restoration begun
in 1865. He also built the Old Rectory across the road from the
church. -
13 : Cheriton, St
Cadoc's Church The 'Cathedral of Gower' was probably built around the : W~opening
of the 14th century to replace the one at Landimore, which had'been
affected by the encroachment of the sea on low-lying land. The two
churches of Landimore and Cheriton are never mentioned together
in an authentic document, both being dedicated to St. Cadoc.
The entrance to the church is a fine example of a doorway from the
'Decorated' period and the Norman Font, is said to have come from
the extinct church of Landimore. In the arch at the end of the nave
can be seen the old rood loft entrance, which was approached up
steps set in the wall of the choir.
The church was restored in 1874 by Rev. J.D.Davies who personally
carved the choir stalls, altar rails, altar and embossed wooden
ceiling. He was buried close to the south wall in Cheriton churchyard.
Also buried there is Ernest Jones, the disciple and biographer of
Sigmund Freud.
14 : Llanrhidian,
St Rhidian & St Illtyd Church The original "Llan" probably dates baek to the 6th century,
as there was once an inseribed stone (lost) in the area. Rhidian
is probably a eorruption of 'Tryrulhid', who was St. Illtyd's wife.
The ehureh itself is 13th eentury with the present ehaneel and tower
added in the 14th eentury. A large stone bloek named 'the Parson's
Bloek' tops the massive west tower. This strueture was originally
a fire beaeon to give warning of enemies approaehing by land or
sea.
In the poreh is the mysterious 'leper-stone' bearing representations
of human and animal figures. This was diseovered near the tower
and is dated baek to the 9th or 10th eentury. It might have Viking
Qrigins and could possibly be a hog-baek tomb-stone. On the green
outside are the remains of an 11th eentury wheel eross known as
the 'Pillory' (or whipping) Stone.
Key from Heron's Way Service Station
all year. Back to Top>>
15 : Ilston, St Illtyd's
Church St Illtyd's church probably derives from a 6th century 'Ymonastic
cell. The present church was largely built during the 13th century
incorporating the 6th century cell in , the base of a massive embattled
tower with a transverse 2 saddleback roof. For the Millennium celebrations
the tower ' was reopened into the church and the area restored as
a simple, but beautiful chapel. Other notable features include the
bells. Two are 2
rung, dating from 1716. The third, dating from the 15th century,
now lies opposite the entrance. The massive yew tree in the churchyard
is believed to be as old as the church itself.
A walk down the valley from the Church brings you to the ruins of
the first Baptist chapel in Wales, used after the Restoration in
1660 by John Miles. When dissenting, assemblies became illegal,
he and his flock emigrated to America in 1663 and founded Swansea
in Massachusetts.
Open from easter to the end of October. Back to Top>>
Introduction
