Llanegwad

Stained Glass Wall Paintings Other Views The Baths

Holy Trinity

A Brief History of the Church

The Church is a Grade 2 listed building

The building of Holy Trinity started in 1865 under the instruction of Henry James Bath who lived at Alltyferin, a large, solid stone, Victorian house built in 1869 that once stood across the river. Parts of the original bridge that the family crossed by can be seen by following the path in the south-west corner of the field. Alltyferin was demolished in the 1950s by Carmarthen County Council.

Only the stone piers remain of the bridge that led from Alltyferin mansion to Holy Trinity church. It is understood the Territorial Army will be rebuilding the bridge as part of an exercise. [April 2003]

Mr Bath, being of English origins, did not understand the Welsh services held at the parish church of Llanegwad, two miles distant. He therefore decided to have a church of his own built on the estate, where the services could be conducted in English. The Bath family had become wealthy through their trade in copper and other business interests in the Swansea valley.

Henry Bath is believed to have chosen the location because there was once a small religious community which had its house in this area. He commissioned the Roman Catholic architect Benjamin Joseph Bucknall and, on 6th June 1865 the foundation stone was laid by Mrs Henry James Bath. This was the last of Bucknall’s buildings before he left for Algiers, where he subsequently died.

Detailed information about Benjamin Joseph Bucknall can be found at Benjamin Bucknall at Woodchester Mansion.

The church was not consecrated until 19th July 1878, the delay being due to the untimely death Mr Bath. The work continued under the direction of his nephew who also died before its completion, and so the church was finally completed to their memory by Mrs Bath. It is probable that Bucknall was chosen as architect because of his work in the Swansea area — five schools, a church, chapel and a house.

Vaults under the altar, constructed for the burials of the Bath family, have never been used. It was not licensed for burials, being what is known as a Chapel of Ease.

The walls are constructed of local sandstone with Bath stone dressings. In the account of its opening in The Welshman of 2 August 1878, it was described as being of no particular style. In fact Bucknall used a combination of Romanesque and Gothic. The Gothic bell-tower in the form of a fleche or spirelet contrasts well with the Romanesque west door with tympanum and flanking pillars with simple Gothic capitals. This hexagonal fleche is one of the most beautiful features of the exterior, rising gracefully halfway along the ridge of the roof, made of wood, clad with slate and probably once culminating in a gilt cross. The open part at its base painted white holds the bell.

The west and east walls are overhung by the roof supported by timber work. The visible use of timber with stone is often a feature of Bucknall’s work. The window openings are round-headed but the East Window with its rose tracery is gently pointed. The vestry door has a shouldered arch. Perhaps it would be accurate to say that the only typical Bucknall characteristic that is lacking on the exterior is the use of stone for the guttering and down pipes.

If the exterior has a simple beauty, the interior has a beauty of colour which makes it a masterpiece in its own right. The single nave has a wooden barrel vault. Tie beams and vault are decorated, the chancel and the sanctuary becoming ever more richly ornate. Presumably Bucknall knew that he was to decorate all the walls with frescoes because he built the walls with a large cavity. Hardly anywhere are the frescoes affected by damp. The main walls have 25 panels illustrating biblical stories while all other parts have abstract designs. The stencilled green hangings forming the dado in the sanctuary are particularly attractive.

This interior decoration is by the hand of Mr A. Stansell of Taunton, under the architect’s direction. The Stansell company still trades as church decorators. Bucknall also designed the reredos of Bath stone with the Alpha, Cross and Omega incised in alabaster. The Welshman went on to say that all the furniture was made with great care and skill; this is certainly so.

The windows are filled with Clayton and Bell glass. The West window shows the Founder holding a model of the church, and another the Founder’s wife wearing prominent earrings. The nephew is shown in the third window.

The rose tracery of the East Window depicts Christ in Majesty. The three single-lighted windows show “I am Resurrection”. The single light windows of the nave show four Old Testament Prophets on the south side and four Evangelists on the north.

Whilst other beautiful churches can be found in the United Kingdom, the quality of the architecture and interior decoration, coupled with the tranquil setting found at Holy Trinity must rank it amongst the best of its type. The fact that it was built in rural Wales certainly makes it unique. Above all it is a place of worship regularly used on Sundays.

References

Benjamin Bucknall,1833 to 1895, A Brief Biography.

Benjamin Joseph Bucknall: Disciple of Viollet-le-Duc.

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