Tenby - Churches
Posted by Paul Allyn Fri, 17 Feb 2006 18:08:00 GMT
After a great breakfast at the Four Croft we headed out the door, turning right and walked along the promenade towards the center of Tenby (Click for map of Tenby). St. Mary’s in Tenby was the first church we encountered along the way. It is beautiful 
(Click on the image for more information). The church seems to date from the 1200’s as there are records indicating the rector wasn’t getting his tithe of fish (fish is good, but I prefer cash, myself). St. Mary’s was added onto multiple times. I have always appreciated the churches we have visited in the British Isles as all seem to have been built for the ages – and took ages to build. My own little church, built in 1930 is of stone block, lathe and plaster. It’s a beauty. My colleagues whose monstrosities were built in the 1950’s and 60’s are jealous even though we struggle financially.
The lighting inside St. Mary’s was a bit more than my little Olympus Stylus could handle. It’s a great little digital camera because it is sealed from the elements – not waterproof per se, but being in my sweaty pocket and getting rained on doesn’t seem to effect it. This picture of the St. Nicholas Chapel inside came out pretty well. It captures the beauty, if not the stained glass windows. The chapel was added around 1485. The family in the memorial is Thomas ap Rees of Scotsborough, his wife and their ten children. 
One of the things I love about this church, and it’s the first I have seen it, is the children have a special space within the nave, right next to the baptismal font. For quite some time, children have been ghettoized in the church universal, shuffled off to some “other” part of the church where they will not disturb the adults. And then we wonder why, when they become adults, they don’t want to go to church. We taught them not to go to church. That children are welcomed and made at home in the nave speaks to a reality of the church being a hospital for sinners and not a club for saints. I sure hope it’s true at St. Mary’s. Sadly, we were not able to speak to any of the congregation. Passing through, you know.
We left St. Mary’s, stopped at the bank to get some traveler’s checks cashed. Frankly, you are better off using your bank card to get cash at ATMs (in the British Isles, they are know as “Cash Points”). There are more cash points available then places that will cash traveler’s checks (there is usually a fee for cashing them) and the exchange rate at the cash points is favorable. Make sure you tell your bank or credit card company you’ll be over seas or they may halt all action on your card fearing identity theft.
Down by the harbor is St. Julian’s (Click on the image for more information). The original chapel had been around for quite some time and was renovated in the 17th century for the staggering amount of £27.00 (about $50 at today’s exchange rate). When the pier was demolished in the 1840’s there was no intention to rebuild the chapel. So, the fishermen started attending St. Mary’s. As the story goes, there were some complaints among the rector and regulars at St. Mary’s about the fish smell and the fact that the fishermen played cards and told jokes during the sermon. In 1874 the rector of St. Mary’s started to raise money for a new chapel. The money came in fast and the current chapel was built, being dedicated two years later. I guess in those days, the church was more of a club for the saints. Still, the lesson for us preachers is…
“The brain can absorb only what the butt can endure.”
God give you joy
Fr. Paul
