St Andrew, Bayvil (Beifil)

OS Number: SN 102 406

St Andrew's is thought to be an early nineteenth century rebuilding of a medieval church although no perceptible early fabric remains. Indeed the church is valued for its survival as a modest but evocative late Georgian Anglican box with Gothick windows, and a completely intact, single chamber interior.

The chief joy is the painted and panelled pulpit and reading desk, the former so tall it almost touches the ceiling with its sounding board. There remains a complete set of box pews and an unusually elaborate memorial tablet against the east wall. This commemorates Morris Williams of Cwmgloyne, in the parish of Neverne, who died in 1840.

The interior also houses a modest twelfth century square font

Bayvil: Pictured in Pevsner

The church is pictured in the new Pevsner guide to Pembrokeshire by Thomas Lloyd, Julian Orbach and Robert Scourfield (Yale, London, 2004). It is described there as a "rarity" of the 1830's by David Evans, its pre-ecclesiological interior "of delightful and luminous simplicity".

History of Bayvil by Dr Nigel Yates

Bayvil Church is also featured in the 2003 volume of Ancient Monuments Society Transactions. The Friends share an office and operate a joint membership scheme with the AMS, and each year a Friends church is featured in the AMS Transactions. The 2003 article, which also examined the Friends nearby church at Manordeifi, was written by Dr Nigel Yates, and can be ordered by contacting the office of the Friends (e-mail to: office@friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk.).

In the article Dr Yates describes how the church is largely undocumented and thus cannot be precisely dated. However in 1813 and 1828 it was served by a non-resident minister, also vicar of the nearby parish at Molygrove and rector of Martletwy in South Pembrokeshire (who in fact lived at Emsworth, Hampshire). Dr Yates suggests that as the bell-cote at Bayvil is similar to that formerly at Eglwyswrw (where the curate lived), the church at Bayvil was built sometime between 1810 and 1830. The architect may have been David Evans of Eglwyswrw, a local architect with an office in Cardigan, who built other churches locally including those at Cilgerran and Llechryd.

In 1828 the church was described as being in "tolerable repair" and "tolerably furnished with all things convenient for the country church". Dr Yates surmises that this is "neither confirms nor disproves a rebuilding within the previous fifteen years or so. Any date for the rebulding of the church is therefore highly speculative and, in view of the known conservative character of many rebuilding and restoration schemes in Wales throughout the nineteenth century, it could be later than 1830."

If you would like to visit the church and need details of keyholders, directions etc, please telephone our office on: 020 7236 3934.

Friends of Friendless Churches is a company limited by guarantee
Company No: 1119137, registered in England.
Registered Office: St Ann's Vestry Hall, 2 Church Entry, London EC4V 5HB.
Registered Charity No: 1113097.