Old Church of St. John the Baptist

The Old Church of St. John the Baptist is a medieval church, largely of the 14th century, with later alterations and additions, group value. The church consists of a nave with transepts and a chancel, and includes an entrance porch beneath a tower on the north side. The building is constructed of local rubble masonry, brought to courses, with traces of external render. A tomb recess in the south side of the chancel projects boldly externally and is built in ashlar masonry. Sections of the chancel arch wall and the south transept have been rebuilt using brickwork. A modern door is located to the south of the nave.

The east window is large but now lacks tracery. Windows north and south of the chancel are thought to be Tudor in origin, but have been restored with modern brick segmental arches. The north transept retains good original features, including three cinquefoil-headed lights under a Tudor arch at its north side, and three tall cinquefoil-headed lights of equal height at its east side, both under Tudor arches. The south transept, rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries, features round-headed windows to the east and west, and two roundels in the south gable.

The north entrance faces towards Slebech Park and its presumed site of a commandery. It features a Tudor-arched, four-centred entrance doorway, set beneath a relieving arch, with two carved shields in the spandrels and further shields at the terminations of the label mould. Above the doorway, on the first storey, is a lancet window with a small carved shield above it. The second storey has square-headed apertures facing north and east. Twin belfry lights are located to the north and south, with single lights to the east and west, all with Tudor arches.

The nave, transepts, and long chancel are at a single level. A wide chancel arch leads to a raised sanctuary, and a large tomb recess, a late addition to the south wall of the chancel, houses the remains of a removed effigy. The chancel arch is likely from the 14th century. The arch to the north transept is four-centred, possibly 15th century, and features a late gothic enriched moulding. The arch to the south transept is a modern replacement. A step leads up to the porch beneath the tower, with an adjacent water stoup. The tower base is given a pointed barrel vault, typical of Pembrokeshire architecture, and Law and Owen’s description (1907) references a Barlow vault beneath the chancel.

The north transept served as the Picton family chapel or pew; although, the main Philipps family memorials are located at St Mary’s in Haverfordwest. An altar originally stood at the east, along with a small piscina and a trefoil-headed aumbry cut into the east pier of the transept arch. The stairs to the tower begin from this transept.

The south transept, which served as the Barlow family chapel or pew, was rebuilt using stone and brickwork, and now contains a fireplace.