Little Gem
St Sawyl, Llansawel
A few miles north of Talley in Carmarthenshire, at the edge of the Brechfa Forest, nestles the town of Llansawel, once a busy market town on the drovers routes and which at one point boasted seven pubs. This might be why the old parish church of St Sawyl is so commodious!
Proudly sited within an oval churchyard, this Grade II listed church with its prominent tower is of 70% medieval core construction and it is believed there was pre-conquest religious use of the site. The church was existing during the 14th century and documents issued by King Edward III [1312 to 1377] refers to the “Chapel” of Pistyll Sawy but it had become a parish church by 1833.
Listed due to its retaining west tower and medieval lancets, it survived a major restoration in 1887-1890 and boasts steeply pitched slate roofs with corbelled gables and crossed finials. The layout consists of a two-bayed chancel, a three-bayed nave and a three-storey west tower. The plain two-centred chancel arch is medieval and at either side is a plain square squint. The west wall features a stoup, found imbedded in the wall in 1887 and moved to its present location, and possibly retooled; it has a plain square bowl in chamfered grey oolite. The west door has a plain, two-centred head from c.1500.
Published in 1889 by Fred Price, he said “The old parish church stood where it does today, but its pews were at one time deep enough to conceal the sitters from all eyes below, and naps might be taken without scandalising anybody. The pews were painted light and became a source of sore temptation to every man and woman whose turn of mind was artistic and poetic, rather than pious and devotional, and ample was the testimony presented by the interior of the pews as to how numerous were the instances in which the victim succumbed to the temptations to leave the liturgy, to neglect the pulpit and take to his pencil, then sketch and write to his heart's content on the pews.” Naps and drawing on the pews?? Whatever next!!
You could make a pleasant tour by visiting St Teilo’s in Llandeilo, coming to Talley with the Abbey and its parish church of St Michael’s next door, St Sawyl’s in Llansawel, and St Teilo in Brechfa [sadly St David’s in Abergorlech has closed]. The church holds two Sunday services a month, 1st and 3rd, at 11am and is kept closed but access can be arranged by contacting the Churchwarden Paul Kincaid on 01558 685 029.
If you think your church is a Gem then contact Caroline on carolineevans1@yahoo.co.uk or 01267 202 305.