St David's Church - Llanddewi Skirrid

Sunday Service 9.15 am

Of the medieval church of St. David only the tower survives. The remainder was demolished in May, 1879 and rebuilt at the expense of Crawshay Bailey Junior of Maindiff Court. The work cost him over £2,000 for Bailey not only re-erected the church (£1,450) he also gave it four new bells (cast in 1879 by James Barwell, founder of Birmingham; they replaced five smaller ones), a valuable new organ with 'spotted metal' pipes (made by W.G. Vowles of Bristol 1882) and the church-plate (including two gilt chalices) and fittings (including the fine choir-stalls); he also built the churchyard wall and improved the lane from the main road to the church.

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The architect was John Prichard of Llandaff. The new church was built on the foundation of the old, save that the chancel was elongated, the vestry (organ-chamber) added and the porch enlarged. Crawshay Bailey also built the Lodge (for the then Rector's widow) and gave the Assembly Room for community and Sunday School use. He died relatively young in 1877 and lies buried in the churchyard. The new church was meant to be a facsimile of Llanfoist church, recently restored by Crawshay Bailey in memory of his father who was buried there.

The new church was constructed of local stone obtained from a quarry near the Walnut Tree Inn. Some of the little stone heads beside the windows have been thought to represent member of Crawshay Bailey's family. After his death his two daughters erected the fine east window to his memory. The old font, of some antiquity, stands at the back of the church by its Victorian counterpart. Other survivals from the earlier church include the Royal Arms of Queen Victoria, the late-medieval grave-slab which once covered the tomb of a priest, (witness the chalice engraved), and the remnants of a churchyard preaching Cross. Crawshay Bailey himself laid the foundation stone (still to be seen) of the new church on 23 May 1879; while building was taking place services were held in the granary of Llanddewi Court.

The church was completed in time for its consecration on the morning of Thursday 22 January 1880 by the Bishop of Llandaff, in which diocese Monmouthshire then lay. (The next day the Bishop dedicated Christ Church, Abergavenny). The service at Llanddewi was followed by a public luncheon held at the Court. The occasion, however, was tinged with sadness, as the Rector of Llanddewi for some 27 years, the Reverend James Farquhar, had died in the new but unfinished building only two months previously. He too lies buried in the churchyard. (Farquhar was the son of the Scottish owner of the Blaen-dare Iron Works, Pontypool.) Because of the Rector's death, the address of thanks to Crawshay Bailey was given at the lunch by Thomas Farr 'one of the oldest inhabitants' who told of the old church getting dilapidated, the pews rotten, the roof in a very bad state. Crawshay Bailey rectified all that.

In 1983 a century later the church was once again the subject of a thorough renovation by the skilled work of the Manpower Services Commission via the Community Enterprises Programme of Monmouth District council. The work in 1983 was largely funded by grants from the Catherine and Lady Grace James Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust and the Welsh Church Act Fund of Gwent County Council.

If you visit St David's Church and find it locked please go over the stile opposite the porch entrance, turn left and call at 2 Llanddewi Court where Jeremy Creighton will be happy to come and unlock the door for you.

W.G. Vowles Pipe Organ - 1882

St David's church has a fine example of a W.G. Vowles Pipe Organ. It is considered one of the finest in the area and made by W. G. Vowles (Dated 1882). It is a two manual instrument with mechanical action throughout. It is said to have a good diaspason and flute choruses and, in particular, a Great Clarinet which is a delight to listen to. It was said it was Crawshay Bailey's original intention to give the pipe organ to Llanvetherine church but he fell out with the vicar and so Llanddewi Skirrid church benefited from his change of mind.

Thanks to the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund the organ has recently been overhauled - the last time being in 1980 by the Gavenny Organ Company. This recent organ restoration was carried out by John Bleney of Grafton Flyford, Worcester.

A Dedication of the restored Organ and followed by a Recital by the Dean of Monmonth, Very Rev Dr Richard Fenwick took place on Sunday 28 July, 2002

On Saturday 5 April 2003, in celebration of the successful restoration, a Public Recital was given by local Organ Virtuoso Scott Ellaway. The Recital which included works by Bach, Handel, Langlais, Brahms and Franck superbly executed by Scott Ellway demonstrated the full range of this wonderful organ.