Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society
Cymdeithas Hynafiaethol Sir Gaerfyrddin
Events in Summer 2005
September: Pilgrimage to St. David's
The centenary celebrations of Carmarthenshire
Antiquarian Society continued into September when they visited
St David's, the venue for one of the early field days. On a
glorious summer day over 120 members gathered in the cathedral
for a guided tour by the Dean, Very Revd J. Wyn Evans. After
an introduction by the President, the Revd J. Towyn Jones, they
were privileged to hear a scholarly description of the building
and its history, enlivened by witty anecdotes, which brought
every stone to life. Traces of faded wall paintings, never noticed
by many who thought they knew the cathedral well, were suddenly
obvious; the significance of small wood carvings and huge arches
were made clear. For nearly fourteen centuries the cathedral,
the oldest part dating from the late 12th century and at least
the third church on the site, has been a place of pilgrimage.
The Dean met the group again for the first
afternoon session in the ruined Bishop's Palace. Badly eroded
in places, the local purple sandstone forms the foundation for
the arcaded parapet and wheel window. The double palace was
begun by Bishop fitz Gerald, added to by Bishops Bek and Gower
and completed by 1350.
A visit to the cathedral library followed,
led by Mrs Nona Rees. Despite destruction of manuscripts during
the Reformation and books during the Civil War, the library
has a valuable collection focusing on material relating to the
cathedral, local and Welsh history and the Church in Wales.
A display, laid out for our benefit, included the oldest printed
book in the collection, a black letter text on church law in
its original calf binding, printed in 1505. Also very much admired
was an album of artistically arranged pressed flowers from the
Holy Land.
A walk to the peaceful site of the ruins of
St. Non's Chapel overlooking St. Bride's Bay and a visit to
the exhibition in the Gatehouse Tower completed the afternoon
programme. Members then gathered for Choral Evensong, a peaceful
and fitting end to what had been indeed a pilgrimage.
A concert during the annual festival
When space allows, prospective new members are welcome to attend
events. Membership runs from January 1st.
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