St David's Church, Glascwm

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St David's Church, Glascwm
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St David's Church, Glascwm
Location in Powys
52°10′12″N3°14′08″W / 52.1701°N 3.2356°W / 52.1701; -3.2356
OS grid reference SO 155 531
Location Glascwm, Powys
CountryWales
Denomination Church in Wales
History
Statusactive
Dedication Saint David
Associated peopleReverend B J Pyke (priest)
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated21 September 1962
Architect Ewan Christian (restoration)
Architectural type Church
Groundbreaking14th century
Administration
Diocese Swansea and Brecon
Archdeaconry Brecon
Deanery Radnor and Builth
Parish Irfon, Wye and Edw Ministry Area

St David's Church is an active parish church in the village of Glascwm, Powys, Wales. It stands in a circular churchyard in the centre of the village, some 9m to the north-east of Builth Wells. It is traditionally associated with Saint David and there was likely an early clas settlement on the site. The church was restored by Ewan Christian in 1891. St David's is designated by Cadw as a Grade I listed building.

Contents

History

The village of Glascwm lies in a remote part of mid-Powys, some 9m to the north-east of Builth Wells. [1] It is probable that the earliest structure on the site of the present church was a clas church, traditionally dating back to the 6th century. [2] Gerald of Wales recorded that the clas church held a handbell, which had supposedly belonged to St David, held magical powers and was known as a 'bangu'. [3] The present church stands in a circular churchyard in the centre of the village. Cadw dates it to the 14th century. [4] In 1891 restoration was undertaken by Ewan Christian. [4]

The church remains an active parish church in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon and regular services are held. [5]

Architecture and description

The church is built to a cruciform plan, with a nave, chancel, transepts and a central tower. [3] The building materials are local sandstones with a shale tile roof. [2] The exterior, and part of the interior, have been whitewashed. [6] Robert Scourfield and Richard Haslam, in their Powys volume in the Buildings of Wales series, describe it as "architecturally, a finer and larger church than its neighbours". [a] [6] The churchyard is roughly circular, supporting the interpretation of its origins as a clas settlement. [7] St David's is as a Grade I listed building. [4]

Notes

  1. ↑ By "its neighbours", Scourfield and Haslam are referencing St Mary's Church, Gladestry and St Michael's Church, Michaelchurch-on-Arrow, both of which lie further to the east, close to the border with England. [6]

References

  1. ↑ "Glascwm". Glascwm Community Council. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Radnorshire Churches Survey: Church of St David , Glascwm". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  3. 1 2 "St David's Church, Glascwm (400392)". Coflein. RCAHMW . Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Cadw. "Church of St David (Grade I) (8780)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "St David, Glascwm". Church in Wales . Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 Scourfield & Haslam 2013, pp. 323–324.
  7. ↑ "Church Heritage Record 5715: St David, Glascwm". Church in Wales . Retrieved 7 September 2024.

Sources


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