St Caradog's Church

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Listed as a fine mediaeval church and tower; well restored in the late C19 and containing fittings of high quality. History: A restored mediaeval church dedicated to St Caradoc (d.1124). Originally it probably consisted only of chancel and nave with bellcote. The round chancel arch suggests a C12 origin. In the C13 sedilia and a piscina were added, and trefoil-headed windows in the chancel. The transepts must be later again, as the passage squint to the N transept cuts one of the chancel windows; the passage also contains a tomb recess of the C14. A particular feature of the church is the very fine tower probably added in the C15. Prior to the start of restoration, Lewis in 1833 refers to the church as being in the Early English style with an elegant embattled tower. Freeman in 1852 also mentions the tower as one of the noblest of its type . Restoration work started in c.1860, early in the incumbency of the Rev. O T H Phillips: a gallery was removed and timber window frames replaced by stone. Glynne visited in 1867, noted the new pews and the plaster ceiling, and deemed the interior too modernised. He described the tower as fine and well-proportioned, and noted its battlements, pinnacles, corbel table and paired obtuse-arched belfry lights. The N passage squint he found to be blocked, but the tomb recess in it occupied by the sepulchral effigy of a cross-legged knight. Towards the end of the Rev. Phillips time in 1885 the main restoration was carried out. For this it was said in the Pembrokeshire Times account of the opening that Mrs Lort Phillips of Lawrenny Castle had acted as architect, with the technical assistance of C W R Stokes, agent to the Lawrenny estate. Glynne s editor, however, writing in 1888, refers only to the designs of Mr Jackso

From Cadw under OGL v3.