Parish Church of St Peter

This parish church is built of rubble stone with low-pitched slate roofs and coped gables. It follows a double nave plan, consisting of a west tower, north nave and chancel, an equal-length south aisle, a north transept, northeast vestries, and two south porches.

The Tower

The tower is lime-rendered with exposed cornerstones and features a northeast square stair turret. Its base is battered (sloping outward) with a chamfered top course. A moulded cornice runs beneath the parapet, which is fitted with stone gargoyle rainwater spouts—some possibly late medieval in date. The ashlar battlements date from 1867.

The west side of the tower has a pointed chamfered west door with hoodmould and 19th-century double panelled doors. Above this sits a large three-light window from 1868 with reticulated tracery, renewed with George VI and Queen Mary head stops on the hoodmould. Higher up is a small medieval cusped lancet at mid-height, a clock from 1904, and an altered late medieval bell-opening with a centre mullion.

The north side features the stair tower to the left, a small loop at mid-height, and a plain square-headed altered bell-opening. The south side has a cusped medieval small light set to the right at two-thirds height and a late medieval cusped two-light bell-opening. The east side has a similar bell-opening.

The Nave

The nave has four tall north windows from 1846 with thin two-light flush tracery. The first has a brick surround and no hoodmould; the others have hoods and brick above. Medieval rough stone voussoirs survive in the wall low down, corresponding to four recesses within.

The North Transept

The north transept has a large three-light north window from 1866 with an octofoil in the tracery. Two blocked pointed openings lie below to the left. A lean-to store on the west side shows no obvious masonry joint and has a low north door with stone voussoirs and a rectangular light above. A grey limestone chimney stands in the angle to the nave. The transept's east side has a blocked brick-framed window. One further nave window lies to the left—a flat-headed 19th-century four-light with hood and brick voussoirs.

The Chancel

The chancel's north side has a 19th-century flat-headed three-light with hood, two blank rectangular panels over the vestries, and a second window with 19th-century two-light ogee tracery, hoodmould, and carved stops. Voussoirs of an earlier window survive above. The east vestry was remodelled in 1865 and the west vestry built in 1886. The west vestry has a flat roof and parapet, a three-light flat-headed window, and a Tudor-arched door. The east vestry is gabled to the north with a three-light north window with straight mullions and a blocked east opening.

The chancel's east end has a large five-light window from 1865 with ogee tracery and stone voussoirs with a relieving arch. An east wall plaque commemorates A. Jones (died 1747). The south side has a two-light window similar to the chancel north window.

The South Aisle

The south aisle has a long single roof. Its east end has a cross finial and a large five-light window from 1865 with a brick relieving arch. A plaque to the children of Dr C. Brown, circa 1784, lies beneath. The south side has a blocked large window to the right with stone voussoirs, and five 1846 cusped three-light pointed windows (similar to the nave north windows) with hoods, brick voussoirs, and voussoirs of earlier windows above. A small consistory court porch from 1869 stands towards the right. A larger medieval south porch sits between the first two windows, refaced in 1869; its doorway was removed in 1969 for a narrow pointed window, with a bronze 1810 sundial above. The south aisle west end has a three-light from 1846.

Interior: Tower and General Features

The tower has a 19th-century panelled boarded ceiling, encaustic tiles, a narrow pointed north door to the stair, and a plain tall pointed tower arch. The body of the church has plastered whitewashed walls and later 19th-century tile floors.

A plastered five-bay arcade features plain pointed chamfered arches on octagonal piers with caps and raised 'sleeves' to the bases. The 1861 nave and aisle roofs comprise 13 and 19 close-set broad low trusses on hammer-beams braced from timber corbels below, with the braces ornamented with shields or rosettes. A cornice with rosettes runs between trusses, with heavy tracery in the low space above the tie-beams. The nave's north wall has four pointed tomb recesses.

The north transept's arch was replaced by an 1851 timber Tudor-arch on angel corbels. It has a four-bay 17th-century roof of thin collar trusses with false hammerbeams, pendants, and carved thin raking struts to high collars with pendants. Ovolo-moulded double purlins and boarded panels complete the roof. A large pointed recess sits on the transept's west wall.

The chancel has a pointed arch to the nave and a segmental-pointed south arch with responds matching the nave arcade. A shallow-curved panelled chancel ceiling dates from 1865. A pointed vestry door has iron hinges from 1866. Two steps lead to the sanctuary, which has encaustic tile paving.

The Vestries

Two vestries are present: the west room from 1886 has a panelled boarded ceiling, with an 1886 door between featuring open cusped top panels and fine inset ironwork below. The east room from 1865 has a flat-boarded ceiling also.

South Porch and South Aisle East End

The south porch, refitted in 1969 as a war memorial to Grammar School pupils, has a plastered medieval barrel vault and a fine heavily moulded 14th-century south doorway with a hollow between two keel mouldings, the arch stones roughly alternately red and cream. The south aisle's east end has tile pavement by Maw & Co from 1876 with a border of mitres in front of the consistory court pews. A cambered-headed south door is present.

Fittings

The church contains an octagonal stone late medieval font, retooled in 1857, with quatrefoil and rosette panels, chamfered below with vigorous leaf carving, on an octagonal shaft with cusped pointed panels.

An ornate pulpit from 1892 by Jones & Willis features a black marble plinth, ashlar base with eight pink marble shafts, and bands of marble in the cornice, under an oak diagonally-set square pulpit with traceried panels (one with carved relief) and carved saints under canopies at the angles. Ashlar steps with a brass rail complete it. A brass angel lectern from 1888 by Jones & Willis is also present.

The organ sits between the chancel and south aisle and dates from the 1790s by G. Pike England, in a case with a centre rounded tower and square outer stacks with minimal Gothic detail.

The nave west gallery possibly dates from 1789, altered, with six plain iron posts, a flat underside, and a pitch-pine front from 1855 with a diagonal grid. Pews from 1855 by James Wilson have poppyhead finials and doors. A panelled low screen crosses the chancel arch, with the panelling carried around to the pulpit stairs.

Chancel stalls from 1892 by Jones & Willis have cusped panels to the fronts, corner shafts, quatrefoil panels to the bench ends, and panel doors. Timber rails from 1866 feature Gothic open panels with wrought iron inserts. An oak Gothic reredos from 1892 by Jones & Willis has a centre tabernacle, two bays each side with finials, and outer bays with statuettes under canopies. Side panelling dates from 1927.

Consistory court fittings from 1866 include an enclosed pew with a centre table, a Gothic canopied bishop's stall in the row behind with a mitre in a roundel, and four ornate pews on the other side. A south aisle timber screen probably dates from circa 1865.

Under the west gallery stands a fine oak 1709 'faculty pew' with plinth, fielded panels, turned columns, and an ornate moulded cornice. It is painted and grained within, with benches on four sides and corner entries. A 18th-century family pew of Griffith Lloyd by the south pier of the chancel arch was not in situ in 2002.

The Mayor's seat stands opposite: a heavily carved chair from 1851 by Isaac Davies with an arched wrought iron frontal with the borough arms and fasces. Nearby is a deal altar table dated 1716. A former marble altar by D. Mainwaring from 1829 is also present.

In the west vestry are late 18th-century painted Commandment boards in a pilastered frame. Two faded early 18th-century benefaction boards are in the east vestry, along with a clock dated 1803. A fragment of 17th-century wall-painting survives on the east wall of the southeast chapel. A reset 15th-century stone shield with Henry V arms, found in 1878 near the Priory site, sits by the southeast chapel door.

Monuments

Carmarthen church holds the most extensive collection of church monuments in southwest Wales, some of the highest quality.

In the south aisle is an effigy of Sir Rhys ap Thomas on a 16th-century tomb chest, restored in 1866 and originally brightly coloured. The effigy of Sir Rhys is complete, showing him in armour with a dog at his feet and a helm under his head. The effigy of his wife is apparently not made for the same tomb as it is too small. The tomb chest has canopies over carved figures: the south side has four figures each with a double canopy (two original) and three pilasters with carved arms and small figures. The east end has a blind traceried rose with a coat of arms. The north side is mostly 19th-century, with one original figure.

The nave's north second niche has a 14th-century coffin lid with a carved head and side inscription possibly to a Richard Rosb(u)r, along with a carved stone boss, possibly 13th-century. In the fourth niche is the top half of a medieval male effigy with hand on chest. In the tower base is a Roman pillar altar.

Wall Memorials

Nave North: Thomas Morris (died 1839) neo-Grecian, by Tyley; small sarcophagus plaque to Herbert P. Ball (died 1798) by Wood; plaque with urn to Mary Oakley (died 1801) by Foster & Co. A very fine pair of joined large monuments with cherubs beneath, scrolled sides, and two cherubs over the left plaque holding portrait ovals to John Phillips (died 1730) and arms over the right plaque to Ann Philipps (died 1720). An arch between them sits over a plaque with a portrait oval to Rechell Lloyd (died 1723).

Nave East: Fine Baroque monument with fluted pilasters, cherubs, and a curved pediment to Sir George Lewis (died 1715).

North Transept West Wall: Large slate plaque to Ann Philipps (died 1720) and family to 1734; in a recess, a coloured marble pilastered memorial to Elizabeth Evans (died 1765); slate plaque in a large ashlar frame to David Lloyd (died 1752).

North Transept North Wall: Neo-classical plaque with small urn to Thomas Cookes (died 1802) by J. Bacon Jr; oval plaque with urn to Eliza Miers (died 1772).

North Transept East Wall: Massive black sarcophagus to Sir James Hamlyn Williams (died 1829) by D. Mainwaring; oval plaque like the Miers memorial to Jane Philipps (died 1766).

Chancel North: Oval plaque to Thomas Jones of Job's Well and descendants to 1810, by D. Mainwaring; marble plaque with urn and weeping willow to J. Jones of Ystrad (died 1842), designed by the painter T. Brigstocke and made by Gaffin of London in 1856; Rev R. Prichard (circa 1715), portrait bust in a recess between carved pilasters with cornice and a plaque with cherubs and arms below. Over the vestry door, Mary Howell (died 1721-2), portrait bust over a scrolled plaque.

Northeast Vestry: Unusual painted wood Baroque surround with scroll pediment to Anna Wotton (died 1719); plaque with urn to Rev John Thomas (died 1793) by F. Lancashire & Son of Bath.

Chancel North (continued): Richard Vaughan (died 1724) by William Palmer, fine quality, with a curved head over cherub-head relief; William Lloyd (died 1710), grey marble panelled pilasters, cornice, and arms on pedestal; Rev. Edward Meyrick (died 1713) with cherub heads, scrolled sides, and arms over cornice; John Lloyd (died 1802) and wife (died 1814) by Drewett & Co, draped urn; Edward Davids (died 1758), pedimented.

Chancel East Wall: James Hughes (died 1803), mourning female and urn, by Wood; Esther Williams (died 1802), oval with urn, by Drewett & Co; Baroque oval plaque with twisted columns and missing pediment to Mary Harries (died 1700).

Chancel South: Lady Anne Vaughan (died 1672), fine painted kneeling figure in a recess between Corinthian columns; double large plaque with urn to infant children of H. Lawrence (died 1834-8) and to James Hughes and family to 1841, by J. Mainwaring. Small lozenge to Mary Mansel (died 1811) by Cooke. Large oval plaque with urn and scrolls to J. Williams (died 1687). Plaque to Lady M. Mansel (died 1811) by Cooke. Right of the organ, small plaque with flaming urn to T. Holliday (died 1787) by R. Isbell. In the chancel floor, floor slab by D. Mainwaring to Charlotte Dalton (died 1832) and Margretta Dalton (died 1839).

South Aisle North Wall: Rowland Phillips (died 1726), segmental pediment and fluted pilasters; fine double monument to John William of Bwlchgwynt (died 1739) and wife (died 1744) with fluted pilasters and double curved pediments.

South Aisle East Wall: G.W. Bevan (died 1768), coloured marble by R. Morgan; Frances Diggle (died 1797), oval with urn by W. Paty; John Lewes (died 1742), open pediment and cherub; Mary Osborne (died 1730) with finely carved skulls below and curved pediment.

South Aisle South Wall: Jonathan Oakley (died 1677), baroque with twisted columns and half-length figure; Sir John Scurlock (died 1682), baroque with twisted columns, skulls, and broken curved pediment with fruit; Sir William Nott (died 1845), large marble plaque with sword above, by J. Loft; M. Roch and D. Davies (both died 1818), each with sarcophagus, probably by Mainwaring; Sir Richard Steele (1671-1729), brass memorial erected 1876; Bishop Robert Ferrar (burnt 1555), memorial 1843 by J.E. Thomas with mitre and bible; Catherine Morgan (died 1767), open pediment and columns; John Thomas (died 1731), crude ashlar with curved top; Dr John Morgan (died 1784) by T. Paty, fine Grecian woman and urn; Rev. W.H. Barker (died 1816) by D. Mainwaring, sarcophagus over shield plaque; B. Waugh (died 1827) and wife (died 1840); Fanny Shirley (died 1764); Sarah Shirley (died 1783), pedimented; Richard Philipps, organist (died 1823); Susanna Richards (died 1742) with fluted pilasters and three colours; Maria Warlow (died 1809) with urn over shaped plaque by Mainwaring; James Hills (died 1818) with urn by Mainwaring.

Stained Glass

Nave North Second Window: Courage & Victory, to Lt P. Girardet (died 1914), Kempe-style.

Nave North Third Window: 1903, Christ & St Peter, possibly by Powell.

Nave North Fourth Window: To M. Thomas, finely drawn High Victorian Gothic, Crucifixion and Resurrection, 1870 by Heaton, Butler & Bayne.

North Transept North: Large colourful window with much pattern work and three scenes—Call to Peter, Feed my Sheep, and Christ stilling the waves—by Wailes of Newcastle, 1866, to David Morris MP (died 1864).

Chancel North First Window: 1978 by John Petts, 'the desert shall bloom'.

Chancel East: Large five-light window from 1873 by Alexander Gibbs, to Isaac Horton (died 1872), five scenes from the Crucifixion and four top-light panels including Light of the World and Feed my sheep.

South Aisle: Three major works from 1864 by Joseph Bell of Bristol: the east five-light of Christ, St Peter and Evangelists, neo-classical drawing style but Gothic tabernacles; south wall fourth, three-light, Faith, Hope & Charity, to Miss A. Lewis; and south wall third, six vesica-shaped panels of Works of Mercy, to Charles Morgan.

South Aisle Second Window: 1926, three warrior saints to R. Lester, probably by Shrigley & Hunt of Lancaster.

South Aisle First Window: 1987 by John Petts, tree of love.

South Aisle West: Panel of armorial glass, earlier 19th-century.

Northeast Vestry: Panel of Lamb of God.