The name or dedication of the church.
This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.
A unique identification number given to every church.
The name of the diocese in which the church is located.
The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.
This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.
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There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.
Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.
There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites.
There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.
The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales.
It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).
This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.
Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc.
If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.
Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).
This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.
This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.
This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.
Golden Grove lies on the south side of the River Tywi opposite Dinefor castle. It is 6km south east of Llandeilo along the A476 and then the B4300, and 20km east of Carmarthen along the same ‘B’ class road. The church is to the south of the ‘B’ road close to the park gates.
Reference
AA Route Planner OS Map 159
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.
If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.
A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.
The earlier St Michael’s church was, in Medieval Times in the Deanery of Stradtowey and connected to Talley Abbey. This church was closer to the river and was replaced on the present site in 1617 and then in situ in 1848-8 by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the regular architect for the Cawdor family churches. This was one his earlier churches and the timber belfry is said to have been a copy of the belfry of the earlier church
Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994 CADW 22179 Coflein 263
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
An ‘effortlessly superior’ church built in the Decorated style, a nave with a small belfry and spire, a slightly lower chancel, a porch and a transept and vestry on the north side. Apart from the timber porch it was all built with axe-dressed, informally coursed red and brown sandstone limestone and the window jambs in ashlar sandstone while the other dressings are in local grey limestone. There are angles buttresses at the east end and crossed buttresses at the west end, all is beneath a slate roof with slight sprocketting at the eave. There is a small iron cross finial at the east end. The porch has oak frames on a low sandstone plinth. The timber bell turret has a steep slate pyramid roof (steeple) topped by a weather vane.
Reference Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994 CADW 22179
Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.
Information about any important features and building fabric.
If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.
Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.
This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.
The gloomy interior is caused by the rendered walls does nothing to enhance the quality of the other work. The roof is on arch-braced common-trusses with high collars. The nave has two ranges of plain pews on a paved floor, the oak is said to come from the estate. There are two queen-post trusses with arch bracing to support the belfry and spite – at the west end of the nave. The chancel roof has pointed barrel vaults with moulded ribs and carved bosses at the intersections. The chancel is fully open to the nave but is emphasised by its narrower width and lower roof. There is a fine Minton encaustic tile pavement laid in a diagonal pattern with the Cawdor arms it the intersections. The is also rich patterned tilling on the steps and lower part of the chancel. The organ was installed c1950. The altar is finely carved in Gothic style with three panels at the front displaying shields on which there are emblems of the Passion: the seamless garment, a ladder with spear and hyssop plant, and three nails with a girdle. There is a frieze above with a vine trail. Above is a cove with four-leaf flowers at intervals which is a motif of the Decorated style which is repeated throughout the chancel joinery and on the pulpit and font. Toe the rear of the altar is a shelf with a raised centre and HIS in a circle, all richly carved. The panelled reredos is carved with blind tracery and has an openwork cornice. There is wall panelling on either side of the altar (which may date from a slightly later date than the rest of the chancel). One panel on each side is a war Memorial. The pulpit sits on a limestone base with trefoil-headed panels between the posts decorated with four-leaf flowers at the corners and in the cove of the top rail. The octagonal font is near the north door with carvings in circles on the faces, there is bottom moulding enriched with four-leafed flowers on an octagonal shaft standing on a square base. The stained glass: The east window ‘The Risen Christ with St Michael and St David’ is by F C Eden, 1928; the rest is by Powell in 1849
Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994 CADW 22179 Stained Glass in Wales
Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings.
Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.
A description of the ecology of the churchyard.
Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.
Records whether the church has been consecrated.
Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.
Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.
Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.
Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.
Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community.