The name or dedication of the church.
This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.
A unique identification number given to every church.
The name of the diocese in which the church is located.
The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.
This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.
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There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.
Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.
There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites.
There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.
The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales.
It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).
This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.
Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc.
If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.
Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).
This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.
This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.
This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.
Carmarthen is about 340 km west of London via the M4. The church is on the eastern side of the town at the junction of Priory Street, St Peter’s Street and Church street.
Reference
AA Route Planner OS Map 159
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.
If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.
A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.
St Peter’s church is located on the site of a Roman defensive gateway and was a parish church during the medieval period in the Deanery of Carmarthen. Henry I granted the church to Battle Abbey sometime between 1107 and 1124 and it was subsequently transferred to the Priory of St John’s Carmarthen. Following the dissolution, the church came under the patronage of the Crown until 1816 when it was ceded to the Principal and Tutors of St David’s College Lampeter. Since the C16 the church has hosted the Consistory Courts of the Chancellor of the Diocese of St David’s. Robert Farr, Bishop of St David’s was tried here in 1555 before being burnt at the stake in Carmarthen market square – now Nott Square. The nave and chancel are thought to date to C14 and the tower is C15. In C16 the south aisle was added probably absorbing the former south transept and the nave and chancel are thought to have largely rebuilt at this time and the south porch added. R K Penson added the two large east windows and the north transept windows in 1855-6.
Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994 Coflein NPRN 100046
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
It is an unsophisticated church with the presence of an old county town church. The church was built from limestone and Old Red Sandstone rubble having a 5-bay nave, a 3-bay chancel, a north transept (unusually set 1-bay west of the chancel arch and which is now the lady chapel), a boiler house which was probably a former charnel house, a 7-bay south aisle, porches on the west, south and south east and a 3-story west tower. Oolite crenellations were added to the tower in 1770 and between 1785 and 1790 John Nash added new roofs and plaster ceilings with a cornice. The tower was lime-render to a mottled effect in 2002 and it has been dry, internally since.
Reference Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994 Coflein NPRN 100046
Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.
Information about any important features and building fabric.
If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.
Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.
This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.
There are three wall paintings in the church which are table of benefaction date 1731 with faded gilt lettering. There are low Jacobean low pitch roofs in both the nave and aisle with heavy tracery above tie beams carried on timber shield-bearing brackets which date from 1861, the work of W H Lindsey of Haverfordwest following the collapse of the John Nash and Samuel Saxon ceiling erected in 1785. The west gallery was erected in 1789 by Thomas Humphreys. The north transept has thin C17 roof trusses with false hammerbeams and carved raking struts.
The furnishings are more important than the building: There is a Roman altar in the west porch, one of a pair, the other in the County Museum at Abergwili, both formerly outside a house in Priory Street. The late medieval octagonal font has been reworked in 1857. The organ of 1793 is by George Pyke England, parts of its case are original. The pews of 1855 are the work of James Wilson of Bath with poppyheads. To the front is the mayor’s seat, a heavily carved chair of 1851 by Isaac Davies. Under the west gallery is the faculty pew of 1709 which is a remarkable survival with turned columns, a big moulded cornice and fielded panels to the lower part. At the east end of the aisle, once known as the town aisle, is the Consistory Court where ecclesiastical law was administered, it has an enclosure with a table, a canopied seat for the Bishop on one side and four ornate pews on the other, the work of Penson in 1866. It has a handsome tile pavement to the front by Maw & Co, 1876, with borders of mitres. Dating from 1892 is the richly carved pulpit carved in oak on a marble shafted base, this with the oak reredos of 1892 and the brass winged angel lectern 0of 188 are all the work of Jones & Willis. The alter rails and low panelled chancel screen of 1866 are by Penson. There is a black marble altar table (ex Situ) from 1829 by David Mainwaring, a quite refined piece with a squared pedestal. The communion table (ex Situ) dates from 1716 and has gadrooned legs.
The stained glass: ‘Scenes from the passion of Christ’, Alexander Gibbs & Co, 1873; ‘St Peter with the Four Evangelists’, Joseph Bell, 1864; ‘Faith, Hope and Charity’, Joseph Bell, 1865; ‘Acts of Mercy’, Joseph Bell, c1865; ‘The Tree of Life’, John Petts, 1987; ‘St Martin, St George and St Alban’, Shrigley & Hunt, 1926; ‘Heraldic Panel’, early C19; ‘The Desert Shall Rejoice and Blossom’, John Petts, 1979; ‘Scenes from the Life of St Peter’, William Wailes, 1866; ‘The Crucifixion and Resurrection’, Joseph Bell. 1870; ‘St Peter’s Commission’, W B Simpson & Sons, 1903; ‘Courage and Victory’, Percy Bacon Brothers, c1915.
There are 8 bells, 3 by John Taylor & Co from 1904, 4 by Abraham II Rudhall of 1722, 1 bell by Charles Carr of 1904. In addition there is a sanctus bell by C & G Mears which came from the Guildhall and an unused bell of unknown origin.
Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994 Coflein 100046 Stained Glass in Wales A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead
Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings.
Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.
A description of the ecology of the churchyard.
Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.
Records whether the church has been consecrated.
Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.
Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.
Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.
Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.
Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community.