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The Church in Wales Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru
The Parish of Caerau with Ely
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On the 23rd November, 1871, the St. David’s church was consecrated by Bishop Ollivant, Archdeacon Blosse preached in the morning and the Reverend C B Bevan in the evening; the offertories at the two services amounted to £23, according to the diary of one of the church wardens, Mr. George Thomas of Ely farm, the father of the late Alderman Sir Illtyd Thomas.
The original was a rectangular structure of simple Gothic design by J L Pearson, a London architect, who was also the architect of Truro Cathedral ( begun in 1880 ) the site was presented by Lady Windsor, and was valued at the time £100
The nave was built in 1871 at a cost of £1,000, and the chancel was added in 1881 at a cost of £400, the cost of the seating was £90, During the period while the chancel was under construction the altar was at the extreme east of the nave, and temporarily a screen separated the nave from the chancel.
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The furnishings were of necessity plain at this stage, owing to lack of resources. The font, of simple design in freestone was part of the original plan and was placed in the nave when the church was built.
The present pulpit, also in freestone of early English design, was placed in the church in 1897 in substitution for a wooden pulpit which was on the north side.
It is trefoil on plan and bears the early English dog-tooth ornament, both characteristic of the early English period and with the font of freestone is in keeping with the general style of the building. This stone pulpit was previously in Bonvilston church, but was removed to make way for a new pulpit presented as a memorial gift to the church.
Mr. John H. James saw the pulpit lying discarded in Bonvilston churchyard and arranged for its removal to St. David’s church. |
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Parish History the story continues……... |
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A note of colour was introduced into the plain interior of the church in 1899 in the stained glass east window, depicting the ascension of our Lord, designed by the artist Sam Evans of West Smethwick. this window, which cost £135, was a gift by the late Mr. Lewis James Shirley, solicitor, of Red House Farm, Ely ( died 1923 ), in memory of Jessie Theodora his wife, who died in 1898, aged 28. The design of the window was approved and faculty granted by Bishop Lewis, and was unveiled at the morning service on Easter Sunday 1899 by Vincent the only son of the donor.
The licence to solemnize marriages in the St. David’s church was by faculty granted by Bishop Lewis on the 18th July, 1899, and the first couple to be married in the church ( on the 10th August 1898 ) were Mr and Mrs. John H James |
