Eglwys Dewi Sant, Carmarthen

Eglwys Dewi Sant
Location	Picton Terrace, Carmarthen
Country	Wales, United Kingdom
Denomination	Anglican
History
Founded	1835
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	19 May 1981
Architectural type	Church
Style	Early nineteenth century
Closed	2003

Eglwys Dewi Sant or St David's Church, was an Anglican parish church in the town of Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales. Originally, the church was intended to be located on Lammas Street and to be known as St Paul's, on ths site later occupied by Christ Church, Carmarthen. A foundation stone was laid at this location on 27 November 1824. However, the owner of the land was not invited to the ceremony and subsequently withdrew the offer of land.

By the mid 1830s a new site for the church was obtained on Picton Terrace, Carmarthen. The church was built between 1835 and 1837 by Thomas Rowlands of Haverfordwest, following the designs drawn up by Edward Haycock. The first services were held on 19 January 1837. Almost immediately after the new church was established, a long-running debate occurred in the town in relation to services in the Welsh language. It was argued that the main reason for building the new church was to enable more services to be held in Welsh in order to attract residents who would otherwise be attend nonconformist chapels. The church was formally consecrated by Bishop Connop Thirlwall on 3 February 1841.

The church was originally a rectangular building on a north–south axis with a tower at the front. In 1853–55, a new nave was added on an east–west axis, built by John James of Narberth to designs by Richard Kyrke Penson. As a result, the interior of the church was rearranged with the altar and organ in different positions. These alteration were inspired by David Archard Williams, Archdeacon of Carmarthen. Williams envisaged that this development would become the nave of a new cathedral, to replace what wa then a decayed cathedral church at St David's.

Another parish church, Christ Church, Carmarthen, was built in 1867 to cater for the English members of the congregation of this expanding parish so that Eglwys Dewi Sant could concentrate on providing Welsh services for Welsh-speaking parishioners.

In 1912-13 a major restoration was carried out, and the large West Window was largely re-built. This work was carried out by E.V. Collier. The church's re-opened with a service attended by the Bishop of St David's in March 1913.

Further alteration were carried out in 1938 by W.E. Anderson, when the north transept was removed and the south transept replaced by a much smaller vestry.

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