A church (St Peter's, Carmarthen) and a cake recipe

 CHOCOLATE APPLE CAKE

There you go, Anon in Wiltshire.  Enjoy!!

A few weeks back when I had a chiro appt. and didn't visit friends, I had a chance to visit St Teilo's church in Llandeilo, and St Peter's Church in Carmarthen - that was a no brainer as it's a the top of the car park where I'd parked up.  It's an interesting old church, inside what was once the Roman town and a Dodecahedron was once found 8 feet down in the churchyard, back in the early 1800s. No-one seems to know their purpose but they look like they could be for measuring portions of dry spaghetti!!!

This is the oldest building in Carmarthen, dating from the 14th C but probably with Norman roots.  It is halfway between the castle and the Priory - Llandeulyddog - which was a Celtic monastic settlement with its own small church.  This is where the Black Book of Carmarthen, an early Welsh language text, is believed to have been written.

Vicars and local squires often purloined antiquarian finds . . . this is where everyone can see it now.

St Peter's is claimed to be the biggest church in Wales, and measures 170 feet long by 50 feet wide. 

He was a favourite of Thomas Cromwell and Ann Boleyn . . . and although a Protestant, was condemned by 56 Protestant protestors, as he forbade the use of the Rosary and allowed candles at funerals and refused to convert to Catholocism.  Many of these protestors were rich merchants in the town, and had power and influence.  Besides, Bloody Mary was then on the throne . . .  St Peter's is the only church in Wales to have a Consistory Court. . . a place for administering the church's own legal system.  He was burnt at the stake in the Market Square (now Nott Square) on 30th March 1555.

This is really a rather splendid pulpit, with superb carvings.

Many of the great and good of the town are buried here . . .

Henry Lawrence, M.D. and some of his infant family (one died just a day old).  

Anne, the Lady Vaughan, who made a good age dieing at 84 years in 1672.

A side chapel.

An engraved font. 17th C?

The most famous memorial in the church is the tomb chest of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, famous for dealing the fatal blow to Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth.  The Church holds a Bosworth Day on 22nd August each year.

HERE is a link to a more thorough look into his history, which I blogged about in 2019.  We had a link to our old Carmarthenshire home, as the incumbent (Gwilym ap Sion) there went to Bosworth and was rewarded by being made Esquire to the Body of the new King, Henry VII.

I can feel your eyes glazing over now so I shall end, and get myself some breakfast.  I have a visit to the GP this afternoon to discuss my ECG results and medication . . .