St Cewydd & St Peters - Medieval Church - Steynton, Milford Haven, Wales. - Medieval Churches on Waymarking.com

"Evidence of the early existence of a Christian community in this area is found in the fourth century Ogham stone (a Christian memorial), near the font. The church was originally of Norman construction. The only parts of this original building remaining are the font (1200 or earlier), the lower part of the tower and the porch entrance (1300). The remainder was almost totally rebuilt in 1883 in the Victorian neo-Gothic style.

It was far from a sympathetic restoration and it arouse the wrath of the then diocesan architect W.D. Caroe, who reported disparagingly that the building had been 'swept' out of historical existence by a tornado of change'. He continued:-

'It is not enough to wipe out its architectural features but the sectional form of the building was almost entirely altered! The original nave and two aisles under three parallel pitched roofs, which gave proper emphasis to the tower, were replaced by lean-to roofs. To accommodate these the north and south walls had to be lowered and the nave roof thrust upwards.

In defence of the Victorians it has to be said that but for their efforts Steynton church would not exist at all today.

During the 1883 restoration workmen discovered a human skeleton, three horses skulls and an iron pike head buried beneath the chancel arch. These were identified as relics of the Civil War of the 1640's. Steynton, a Royalist stronghold, coupled with strategic importance of the church tower as a look-out was the object of a number of attacks by Cromwell's troops.

St. Cewydd Confessor

He was the son of Caw of Pictland who sought asylum in Wales. He is the Welsh Rain-Saint. His English counterpart is St. Swithun. He is still referred to in parts of South Wales as 'Hen Gewydd y Glaw' (Old Cewydd of the Rain). His feast day is on July 15th - a date widely held in this part of Pembrokeshire in earlier centuries to have marked the beginning of the biblical Flood, which lasted for forty days. Hence the superstition that if it rains on St. Cewydd's Day it will rain for forty days!" Text Source: (visit link)

Building Materials: Stone

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/12/2017 veritas vita visited it