A CHURCH that was founded by a pupil of St David, is closing after 1,439 years due to dwindling congregations.
St Madoc of Ferns in Haroldston West, Haverfordwest, is believed to have opened in 583.
The church was founded by Madoc, a follower of St David, the patron saint of Wales.
With an average of two people attending the service every few weeks, which is on a rotation with a number of other churches who share the same vicar, the dwindling congregation means the church will close its doors after a final service in July.
The church has been earmarked for use as a community centre.
Speaking on the closure, Church Warden Diana Thomas said: “ “I’m devastated, I’ve been using the church for 40 years.”
“As a place of worship it was started by St Madoc in 583, he was a follower of St David.
“He set up a little cell with the idea of going into the countryside and bringing people into the church.
“Obviously it would have been nothing like the building there now but just a little wooden building.
“Madoc finished up as Bishop of Ferns in Ireland.
“I have had a lot of family connections with it. Marriages and funerals, that sort of thing.
“It’s a real shame but things change and that is the position we are in.
“It was a flourishing little church but people have moved away and people die and new people are not coming in.”
Ms Thomas feels that holiday lets have played a part in the dwindling congregation numbers, adding that she doesn’t feel there are enough people to sustain the services, which can hold up to 50 people.
Reverend David Mortimore, also feels that holiday lets have played their part.
He said: “It’s in a farming area where there are only 100 houses in the parish and some of them are holiday homes.
“So we only have two ladies who are getting elderly and are unable to keep going.”
A meeting was held on May 11, by the Havens History Group, and a plan was set for the building to be taken over by a community group.
A further meeting is due to be held on June 8.
A member of the history group, Shirley Norman, who also runs Littlehaven’s Boathouse Gallery said: “”We have 12 people who are definitely willing to help and who left their contact details.
“One lady from Broad Haven has offered to apply for funding because that is her full-time job.
“Our immediate problem is that the electricity will be cut off at the end of June if we do not take action soon.
“We still hope the new group will have ideas about recruiting someone with building knowledge.”
