Whitchurch, Pembrokeshire

WHITCHURCH, a parish in the hundred of DEWISLAND, county of PEMBROKE, SOUTH WALES, 12 Miles (N. W. by W.) from Haverfordwest, containing 1028 inhabitants. This parish, which contains the small sea-port town of Solva, described under its own head, is situated on the coast of St. Bride's bay, and on the turnpike road from Haverfordwest to St. David's. It comprises a considerable tract of good arable and pasture land: the surface is abruptly varied, and the scenery, being pleasingly diversified with hill and dale, is in some parts, especially near the town, highly picturesque. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in agriculture, in the burning of lime, for which there are some kilns near the entrance of the town of Solva, and in the trade of the port. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of St. David's, rated in the king's books at £5. 15. 7 1/2., endowed with £200 royal bounty, and £800 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Precentor and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of St. David's. The church, dedicated to St. David, is not remarkable for any architectural details of importance. There are places of worship for Baptists, Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists, and Presbyterians. Caervoriog, in this parish, is the birthplace of Adam Hoton, Bishop of St.David's, at one time ambassador to the Court of France, and Lord High Chancellor of England. The average annual expenditure for the support of the poor amounts to £304. 19.

From A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (S. Lewis, 1833).

Whitchurch Church Records

Diocesan records suggest that c1790 the registers went back to 1731

Parish registers: Christenings (1753-1974), Marriages (1772-1969, 1973-89) Banns (1772-1874, 1877-94) Solva (1908-85), Burials (1752-1957) at Pem.RO

Copy ts PR C (1753-94) M (1772-1812) B (1752-94 and extracts CMB to 1907) at NLW

Bishops' Transcripts, covering the period (1799-1800, 1802-7, 1809-82, 1886, 1889-91, 1898-9, 1902-4) are at the National Library of Wales, and have been microfilmed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Call Number: 0819967.

See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg

Held at Pem.RO: Whitchurch Solva Parochial Church Council minute books 1941-1981

Non-Conformist Churches

• Middlemill [Felinganol], near Felinganol [Baptists, 1756]. Records ; See Llangloffan for the years before 1794 On Dyfed FHS [Capel y Felinganol]

• Sion, in Solva village [Baptists, 1819]. Records ; See Felinganol On Dyfed FHS [Capel Bach]

• Mount Pleasant Baptist, High St, Solva SM80122431 Built 1862-3 Still open 1993 Coflein On Dyfed FHS

• Hen Gapel, Chapel Lane, Solva (Baptist) SM80042428 Built pre 1800, by 1905 a Sunday School. Not still open 1994 Coflein

• Chapel, in Solva village [Calvinistic Methodists, 1815]. Records ; birth and bapts 1798-1837 at PRO RG4/3854, and have been microfilmed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Call Number: 819967, IGI On Dyfed FHS

• Capel y cwm CM chapel, Main St, Solva SM80662447 Built 1823, rebuilt/altered later in the C19. Not still open 1993 Coflein See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg On Dyfed FHS

• Vachelich Solva Calvinist M chapel On Dyfed FHS under St David's but appears to be just within Whitchurch

• Mount Zion / Old Meeting House , in Solva [Independents, 1798]. Records ; births and bapts 1814-37 at PRO RG4/2341; RG4/2342 ; RG4/3920, and have been microfilmed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Call Number: 819967, IGI See Bap/Mar/Bur data on FreeReg On Dyfed FHS

• Mynydd Seion Ind chapel, Upper Solfach SM79942442 On the First Edition of the OS 1/2500, 1891. In 1896 rebuilt Coflein Shown as still open on the Union of Welsh Independents site (Dec 2006)

• Paran , next to Trefgarn church [Independents, 1843]. Records ; See Trefgarn Owain On Dyfed FHS

• Trefgarn Owen Ind chapel - see under Brawdy parish

• Chapel , in Solva village [Wesleyan Methodists, 1812]. Records ; See Bethel/St Davids parish SM80012431 Built 1812. Converted to a Memorial Hall, 1922 Coflein On Dyfed FHS