SAINT PETER'S PARISH CHURCH, CARMARTHEN, WALES - CARMARTHEN,SOUTH WEST WALES,

<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE> SAINT PETER'S PARISH CHURCH, CARMARTHEN, WALES - CARMARTHEN,SOUTH WEST WALES, </TITLE> <base target=_top> </HEAD> <body background="/art/backgrnd/wtstco.gif" bgcolor=#ffffff> <center> <h1> Welcome to SAINT PETER'S PARISH CHURCH, CARMARTHEN, WALES </h1> <b>- the 11th century Welsh church<br>with Royal connections<br>CARMARTHEN, SOUTH WEST WALES, SA31 1GW<br> United Kingdom<br> <br></center> </b><br><hr><h2>Staff / Leaders</h2> <table width=80%> <TR><TD><b>VICAR:</b> </TD><TD><b>To be appointed in near future</b><br> </TD></TR> <TR><TD><b>ASSISTANT CURATE:</b> </TD><TD><b> REVD PETER RATCLIFFE</b><br> </TD></TR> <TR><TD><b> .</b> </TD><TD><b> .</b><br> </TD></TR> <TR><TD><b>Pastoral Assistant and Worship Leader:</b> </TD><TD><b>Alun Lloyd Davies</b><br> </TD></TR> <TR><TD><b>Webmaster:</b> </TD><TD><b> Alun Lloyd Davies</b><br> </TD><TD><A HREF="mailto:saint.peters@virgin.net"> Send an Email...</A><br></TD></TR> </table> <br><hr><h2> Weekly Schedule</h2> <table width=60%> <TR><TD><b> - see below</b> </TD><TD><b> </b><br></TD></tr> </table><br> <hr><h3> </h3> <center><IMG SRC="http://www.fotw.net/images/g/gb-ciw.gif"width="120" height="90"><font color='white'>...............</font><IMG SRC="http://www.stpeterskinver.org/graphics/gif/stpeterscross.gif" <body background="/art/backgrnd/patvlt.gif"> <font color='white'>...............</font><IMG SRC="http://www.fotw.net/images/g/gb-dewi.gif"width="120" height="90"> <BR><center><font color='white'>...</font><font size="1">Church In Wales</font><font color='white'>...................................................................</font><font size="1">Diocese of St David's</font> <BR><BR><IMG SRC=http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/images/pictures/02/22/st-peters-church-carmarthen-21582.jpg width="260" height="260"><font color='white'>.....</font><IMG SRC="http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/20973211.jpg"width="240" height="260"> <BR><B>St Peter's after essential weatherproofing work on the tower in 2001</B> <BR><BR><IMG SRC=http://www.oldukphotos.com/graphics/Wales%20Photos/Carmarthenshire,%20Carmarthen,%20St%20Peter%27s%20Parish%20Church%20c1900%27s.jpg width="340" height="240"><font color='white'>.....</font><IMG SRC=http://www.oldukphotos.com/graphics/Wales%20Photos/Carmarthenshire,%20Carmarthen,%20St%20Peter%27s%20Parish%20Church%20III%20c1900%27s.jpg width="340" height="240"> <BR><B>St Peter's circa 1900</B> <BR><IMG SRC=http://www.oldukphotos.com/graphics/Wales%20Photos/Carmarthenshire,%20Carmarthen,%20St%20Peter%27s%20Parish%20Church%20Interior.jpg width="340" height="240"></center> <BR><center><B><u><font color="#FF3333">THE WEBSITE:</font></B></u><BR><A HREF="#background"> <B>GENERAL INFORMATION</B></A><font color='white'>.................................</font><A HREF="#services"><B>CHURCH SERVICES</B></A> <BR><BR><A HREF="#restoration"><B>CHURCH RESTORATION</B><A/><font color='white'>..........................</font><A HREF="#history"><B>THE CHURCH'S HISTORY</B></A> <BR><BR><A HREF="#finds"><B>VERY</B><font color='white'>....</font><B>IMPORTANT</B><font color='white'>....</font><B>FINDS</B><font color='white'>....</font><B>WITH</B><font color='white'>.....</font><B>ROYAL</B><font color='white'>....</font><B>CONNECTIONS</B></A> <BR><BR><A HREF="#prayer"><B>PRAYER</B></A><font color='white'>..............................................................................</font><A HREF="#links"><B>USEFUL LINKS</B></A> </B></center> <IMG SRC="/art/anim/bars/Rule02.gif"width="750"height="5"> <P><A NAME="services"></A></P> <center><IMG SRC="/art/relign/Christkg.gif" width="180" height="180"> <BR><BR> <center><IMG SRC="/art/anim/cross/cross.gif"width="40"height="50"> <u><B><font size="5"><font color="#FF3333">WORSHIP</font></font></B></u> <B><font color="#FF3333"><BR>A WARM WELCOME AWAITS YOU AT ALL <BR>OUR SERVICES & PARISH GROUPS</font></B></center> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross10.gif">Every Wednesday: at 10.30am - Mid-week Eucharist <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross10.gif">Every Sunday: at 8.00am - Holy Eucharist<BR> <BR><BR><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross9.gif"><B>SUNDAY, 7th FEBRUARY</B> <BR>9.30am - Boreol Weddi yn Sant Ioan (Mattins in Welsh at St John's) <BR>11.00am - Family Eucharist -<font color = "brown"> followed by coffee</font></font> <BR><BR><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross9.gif"> <a href="http://www.sixthirty.org.uk"> <IMG SRC="http://www.sixthirty.org.uk/images/630.gif" WIDTH="90" HEIGHT="33" ALIGN="BOTTOM"></a> - every Sunday evening at 6.30pm - meeting at St John's - an ecumenical fellowship of Christians that transcends all denominational boundaries.<BR><BR><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross4.gif"><B><U>THE MOTHERS' UNION:</U></B> active in the parish since 1899.<BR> 2nd Feb: Monthly Service and 16th Feb: Talk by Mr Arwyn Price<BR><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross4.gif"><B><U>PRAYER GROUPS</U></B> <BR><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross4.gif"><B><U>BIBLE STUDY GROUPS</U></B> <BR><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross4.gif"><B><U>CHILDREN'S & YOUTH GROUPS</U></B> <BR><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross4.gif"><B><U>CHOIR</U></B> <BR><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross4.gif"><B><U>BELLRINGERS</U></B> <BR><IMG SRC="/art/cross/cross4.gif"><B><U>MOVING ON IN FAITH:</U></B> various groups meet to explore the Christian faith <BR><BR><B>Email the <A HREF="mailto: saint.peters@virgin.net"> <B>Webmaster</B></a> for further information.</B> <center><IMG SRC="/art/anim/cross/cbgs.gif"></center> <BR><IMG SRC="/art/anim/bars/Rule02.gif"width="750"height="5"> <BR><center><P><A NAME="background"></A></P<BR> <B><font size="5"><u><font color="#FF3333">BACKGROUND:</font></u></font></B></center> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"> <IMG SRC="http://www.castlewales.com/walesfly.gif"width="50"height="30"> <B>Carmarthen</B> (population 17,000) is an university town and administrative centre and county town of <B>Carmarthenshire</B> in <B>South West WALES (United Kingdom)</B>. It is also the oldest town in Wales <BR><BR> <B>Saint Peter's</B> is the town's parish church and one of the largest churches in the <B>Diocese of St David's</B> in the <B>CHURCH IN WALES</B> in the <B>Anglican Communion</B>. <BR><BR> Services are held in the English language (Welsh language services are held in the daughter church, <B>Eglwys Sant Ioan - St John's Church,</B> in the town). The two churches have a combined membership of 500.<BR><BR> The Revd Dr William A Strange, our<B> Vicar</B> since September 2003, left the parish at the end of May 2009, to become Archdeacon of Cardigan and Vicar of Cwmann, Lampeter. We wish him every blessing in his continued ministry and every happiness for the family in their new home. Our <B>Curate</B>, the Revd Peter Ratcliffe, joined us in June 2008 having been ordained deacon. He was ordained priest on 27th June 2009 at St David's Cathedral and celebrated his first Communion the following day. We remember him in our prayers. We have one licensed Lay Minister: Alun Lloyd Davies <B>(Lay Pastoral Assistant and Worship Leader)</B>. <BR><IMG SRC="/art/anim/bars/Rule02.gif"width="750"height="3"> <BR><P><A NAME="restoration"></A></P><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"> <center><B><font size="5"><u><font color="#FF3333">RESTORATION:</font></u></font></B></center> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"> Eleventh century <B>Saint Peter's</B> has, in the past decade, undergone a major restoration programme involving both exterior and interior work. The floor of the Chancel and Consistory Court was removed in 2000 and a new re-enforced replacement floor constructed - this entailed the temporary specialist removal of the magnificent eighteenth century George III pipe organ - archaeologists were in attendance. The new floor was re-tiled with the original nineteenth century tiles. Essential weatherproofing work to the tower was undertaken in 2001 and, in 2002, all the ancient monuments within the church were cleaned and restored. Over one million pounds was spent on the work. We acknowledge the hard work of our various committees, the very generous financial contributions and the financial backing of <B>CADW</B> and the <B>Heritage Lottery Fund</B> without whose help this work could not have been contemplated.</JUSTIFY><BR> <IMG SRC="/art/anim/bars/Rule02.gif"width="750"height="5"> <center><P><A NAME="history"></A><IMG SRC="/art/anim/misc/book.gif"width="70"height="50"> <B><font size="5"><u><font color="#FF3333">HISTORY</font></u></font></B></center> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Both <B>Saint Peter's</B> and the town of <B>Carmarthen</B> itself are steeped in history. <B>Saint Peter's</B> is Carmarthen's original parish church and its oldest building still in use for its original purpose. <BR><BR>Although the exact date of its foundation in unknown, its recorded history dates from the reign of <B>King Henry I</B> (1100 -1135). The earliest known record of <B>Saint Peter's</B> is found in the <B>Chronicle of Battle Abbey</B> - the abbey built by <B>William the Conqueror</B> to commemorate his victory over <B>Harold</B> in the <B>Battle of Hastings</B> in 1066. It states that the church was conferred upon <B>Battle Abbey</B> by <B>Henry I</B> "in the time of Abbot Ralph" (1107 - 1124). The possibility that a Celtic pre-Norman church originally stood on the site of <B>Saint Peter's</B> cannot be ruled out, however, since the church lies just inside the west gate of the Roman walls of <B>Moridunum</B> (Roman Carmarthen) and the churchyard appears to have been circular in origin, a characteristic of Celtic practice. The first recorded vicar was Richard ap John in 1278. <B>Saint Peter's</B> is one of the largest churches in the <B>Diocese of Saint David's</B> being 52 metres from west porch to east window and 15 metres wide across nave and south aisle. It consists of a west tower, nave, chancel, south aisle and a Consistory Court. It is built of local red sandstone and grey shale. <BR><BR> Parts of the tower, nave and chancel date from the 13th century. In the porch stands a Roman altar. A 13th century stone coffin lid can be found nearby. Memorials line the church's walls and date from 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Buried in the chancel is <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/liza/hod_20.151.6.htm"><B>Walter Devereux, First Earl of Essex</B></a> (1539 - 1576), father of one of Queen Elizabeth I's <a href="http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0817720.html">favourite courtiers</a>. <br><br><hr><h3> </h3> <P><A NAME="finds"></A></P><center><B><u><font color="#FF3333">VERY IMPORTANT FINDS WITH ROYAL CONNECTIONS</font></B></u></center> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Also buried in the chancel is<B> Charlotte Augusta Catherine Dalton</B> (died 1832 aged 27 years), grand-daughter of <B>King George III</B> and his first wife, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/916965.stm"><B>Hannah Lightfoot</B></a> (married in 1759). Sharing her tomb is her niece, <B>Margaret Augusta Prytherch</B> (died 1839 aged 8 years), great-grand-daughter of the king. The large brick vaulted tomb, with a domed roof, situated in the centre of the chancel and directly in front of the altar, was found by archaeologists in September 2000 during restoration work. It was clearly marked with a stone memorial slab giving the family connections and dates. It is not known whether the burial was a secret affair but, certainly, no record was kept and knowledge of the burial was not handed down through the generations. The tomb and memorial had lay hidden under a tiled floor since the 1870s. <BR><BR>The then <B>Prince of Wales</B> had fallen in love with <a href="http://www.cardinalpress.co.uk/hannah-regina.htm"><B>Hannah Lightfoot</B></a>, a London Quaker girl and daughter of a London linen-draper, and married her in complete secrecy at Kew on the outskirts of London on 17th April, 1759. They went on to have three children. Two years later, in 1761, now king, he married <B>Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Strelitz</B> who became his queen. <BR><BR>One of the king's daughters by <B>Hannah</B>, <B>Catherine Augusta</B>, married <B>James Dalton</B> of Carmarthen, a doctor and an officer of the East India Company in 1823. They had two sons and two daughters - <B>Charlotte Augusta Catherine</B> and <B>Caroline</B> (who was mother of <B>Margaret Augusta</B>). <BR><BR>Between the Chancel and the Consistory Court is the eighteenth century piped organ built by <B>George Pike England</B> on the orders of <B>King George III</B>. The king had originally planned that the organ should go to the <B>Chapel Royal, Windsor</B>. However, he changed his mind and it found its way to <B>Saint Peter's</B>.</JUSTIFY> <BR><BR><center><B><u><font color="#FF3333">ANOTHER IMPORTANT FIND</font></B></u></center> <BR><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Consistory Court (or Bishop's Court) was used for administering ecclesiastical law - it is the only one of its kind in Wales. On one of its walls is a memorial to <a href=" http://classiclit.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.accd.edu%2Fsac%2Fenglish%2Fbailey%2Fsteele.htm"><B>Sir Richard Steele</B></a> (1671-1729), dramatist, essayist, famous contributor to <B><I>'The Tatler', <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/richard-steele">'The Spectator'</I></a> and <I>'The Guardian'</I></B> and first publisher of the modern periodical - the magazine. Born in Dublin, educated at <B>Charterhouse</B> and <B>Oxford</B>, he was a friend of <B>Joseph Addison</B> and the poet <B>Alexander Pope</B>. <B>Sir Richard's</B> remains are buried in a tomb beneath the memorial. However, in October 2000, archaeologists, working in the church during restoration work, found part of his remains, his skull, perfectly preserved in a lead casket. It had been placed in the casket in 1876, whilst earlier work was being carried out on the chancel and consistory court. Workers had then found <B>Steele’s</B> remains and were astonished that the skull was in near-perfect condition. They decided to place it in a lead-lined casket within the tomb. <B>Sir Richard’s</B> second wife, poet <B>Mary Scurlock</B>, a native of <B>Carmarthen</B>, is buried in <B>Poets Corner</B> at <B>Westminster Abbey</B>. <BR><BR>Another memorial in the Consistory Court is to <a href="http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/RobertFerrar.htm"><B>Bishop Robert Ferrar of Saint David's</B></a>, the Protestant Martyr. He had been brought many times to the Consistory Court at <B>Saint Peter's</B> in a trial for heresy before being sentenced to death. <a href="http://www.carmarthenmuseum.org.uk/articles/bishopferrar.html"> <B>He was burnt at the stake</B></a> in <B>Carmarthen's</B> market place (now Nott Square) on 30th March, 1555. Yet another tablet commemorates <a href="http://95.1911encyclopedia.org/N/NO/NOTT_SIR_WILLIAM.htm"><B>General Sir William Nott</B></a> (after whom Nott Square was named), distinguished soldier, who was buried in the churchyard in 1845 after a distinguished career in India and Afghanistan. <BR><BR>The tomb of <a href="http://www.castlewales.com/rhysap.html"><B>Sir Rhys ap Thomas of Dynefwr</B></a> (died 1525) and his wife can be found in the South Aisle. <B>Sir Rhys</B> was instrumental in the accession of <B>Henry Tudor (later Henry VII)</B> to the throne of England in 1485. <B>Thomas</B> led an army of his tenantry from <B>Carmarthenshire</B> to fight for <B>Henry</B> at the <B>Battle of Bosworth Field</B>. <B>Richard III</B> was killed and <B>Henry</B> was crowned King on the battlefield. <B>Rhys ap Thomas</B> was knighted for his services and rewarded with vast estates. He was originally buried in the Church of the Grey Friars in the town but, on the Dissolution of the Friary in 1538, his tomb was moved to <B>Saint Peter's</B> and placed in the Chancel. It was moved for the second time to its present site in 1886. <BR><BR>Over the centuries, <B>Saint Peter's</B> has been blessed with a long line of benefactors who have preserved this historic foundation for the present generation. <BR><BR>It is more than a denominational religious institution in the town; it is the <B>"VERY SOUL OF CARMARTHEN"</B>. <BR><BR>For nearly nine centuries it has been linked with the town's history and each generation has left its mark. <BR><BR>Despite the ravages of time, this venerable church stands today as a link between the past and the future - a noble and spiritual heritage which deserves to be preserved for future generations.</JUSTIFY> <BR><BR><BR> <B><center><I>The Webmaster acknowledges the invaluable assistance he received from Victor and Joyce Lodwick, <BR>authors of 'THE STORY OF CARMARTHEN', in writing the church's history.</I></B></center> <P><p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><A HREF="#top"><IMG SRC="/art/other/l_arrow.gif"><B>TOP OF PAGE</B></A></P> <IMG SRC="/art/anim/bars/Rule02.gif"width="750"height="5"> <BR> <center><A NAME="prayer"></A> <IMG SRC="/art/anim/misc/earth.gif"width="80"height="80"> <BR><B><u>LET US PRAY FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD</u></B> <BR><BR> <B><I>Merciful God, we commit to you the needs of the whole world. <BR> Where there is hatred, give love; where there is injury, pardon; <BR> where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; <BR> where there is sadness, joy; where there is darkness, light. <BR> Grant that we may seek not so much to be consoled, as to console; <BR> to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; <BR> for it is in giving that we receive, <BR> in pardoning that we are pardoned, <BR> and in dying that we are born into eternal life - <BR> through Jesus Christ our Lord. <BR> Amen</I></B> <BR><BR> <BR><IMG SRC="/art/anim/bars/Rule02.gif"width="750"height="5"><BR> <A NAME="links"></A> <center><B><font size="5"><font color="#FF3333"><u>USEFUL<font color='white'>....</font>LINKS</u></font></font></B> <BR><BR><font color="#FF3333"><B>C A R M A R T H E N</B></font> <BR><a href="http://uk.multimap.com/p/browse.cgi?pc=SA311LH&title=St+Peters+Church&cat=des"><B>Where is St Peter's? Map of Carmarthen</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.oldukphotos.com/carmarthenshirecarmarthen.htm"><B>Old photos of Carmarthen town</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.tourlink.co.uk/"><B>Carmarthenshire Tourism</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.carmarthenonline.co.uk"><B>Carmarthen online</B></a> <BR><a href="http://194.130.49.212/index_CIS_1.cfm?SiteRef=1&CisRef=25&ChosenLang=1&ChangeBody=English"><B>Carmarthen town</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/"><B>Carmarthenshire County Council</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.carmarthenmuseum.org.uk/"><B>Carmarthen County Museum</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.castlewales.com/carmarth.html"><B>Carmarthen Castle</B></a> <BR><a href="http://carmants.org.uk/index.html"><B>Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society</B></a> <BR><BR><font color="#FF3333"><B>C H U R C H</B></font> <BR><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=2&version=31"><B>The Bible online</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk/"><B>St David's Cathedral - our Mother Church</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/david/std_english.php"><B>Diocese of St David's</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/index_e.php"><B>Church In Wales</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.britainexpress.com/wales/az/churches/"><B> Welsh Churches Gazeteer</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.anglicancommunion.org/"><B>The Anglican Communion</B></a> <BR><a href="http://anglicansonline.org"><B>Anglicans Online</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.rejesus.co.uk"><B>Rejesus</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.sixthirty.org.uk/doyouknow.html"><B> Gospel Message (animated film)</B></a> <BR><BR><font color="#FF3333"><B>FAMILY<font color='white'>...</font>HISTORY</B></font> <BR><a href="http://www.dyfedfhs.org.uk/"><B>Dyfed Family History</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/index.asp?locID=8241&docID=-1"><B>Carmarthenshire County Archives</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.llgc.org.uk/"><B>National Library of Wales</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.welshfamilyhistory.co.uk"><B>The Time Machine - local genealogical research service</B></a> <BR><a href="http://www.findmypast.com/home.jsp"><B> Find My Past</B></a></center> <BR><IMG SRC="/art/anim/bars/Rule02.gif"width="750"height="5"> <BR><center> <B>Thank you for visiting our beautiful church - do visit us again! Website updated weekly. <br><br><hr><center><br> SAINT PETER'S PARISH CHURCH, CARMARTHEN, WALES is associated with: THE CHURCH IN WALES - ANGLICAN<br>for additional information, see the<a href="/denomlst.htm" target=_top> denomination links</a>.<br><br>For information about this page contact: <a HREF="mailto:saint.peters@virgin.net">saint.peters@virgin.net</a><br><br>Last Update: Mon Feb 01 18:45:58 (CST)<br>This page has been accessed: <b>54370</b> times since Mon Jan 04 15:01:32 1999.<br><br><hr><br>Search for other churches in the <a href="/ch_srch.htm#top" target=_top>Church Directory</a><br> <br>To apply for a FREE Web page like this for your church <a href="/appform.html" target=_top>Click Here.</a><br> <br>This Web page is sponsored by <a href= "/index.html" target=_top>Net Ministries</a>.<a href="/index.html" target=_top><br><IMG align=absmiddle hspace=4 src="/art/minilogo.gif"width=124,height=46 alt="[Net Ministries Home]" border=0></a></center></body></html>