Henry Samuel Davis

“ It is a most imposing mass of building, comprising a nave, with aisles, a chancel, and north and south transepts, each of which have aisles on their eastern sides, and communicate by deep moulded Early English arches with the chancel, but these have been for some years blocked up by the monuments of the Camden family. ”

“ Even the sexton, with his paltry salary of five pounds a year, has not received one farthing of it for many long years. Yet the estates flourish, the rents are paid, and the dean and prebendaries pocket the money. The livings which pious men left to this church are still held by them, and yet it is all decay, ruin, and desolation. ”

“ David's, and the name is said to be an abbreviation of Llandewi, or St. David's. Giraldus Cambrensis resided in the castle here; and the parish, there is reason to believe, formed a portion of the parish of St. David's, or Plewy-Dewi, in Brecknockshire. A chapel of ease existed here in which the Archdeacon of Brecon officiated, receiving tithes, and it is supposed to have been the mother church to the Priory of Dominican or Friars' preachers, now called Christ's College (the remains of which have been already noticed) , before it was removed to Brecon. ”

“ David's, becoming possessed of the land, goods, and chattels of the House of Abergwylli, was empowered to appoint a schoolmaster and lecturer at a salary of 52l. per annum. This foundation however (it appears from Johnes's account, who was Deputy-Registrar of the Archdeaconry of Brecon) , was translated from Abergwylli to Brecon by Bishop Lucy, by charter, 32 Henry VIII., in 1531. ”

“ The nave is used on Sundays for Divine Service, and the Holy Communion is always administered in the chancel. This structure is worthy of careful inspection, and in general interest may compare with some of the finest architectural remains in the United Kingdom. (See the annexed illustration.)
Perhaps as interesting, though not so extensive, remains are to be seen on a visit to Christ's College, on the opposite and right bank of the Usk. ”

“ A small portion of the castle exists, and a considerable part of the wall, in which are some remains of an early English door, deserving of notice, and an arched fountain, apparently of Norman date, affording a supply on both sides of the wall, for the convenience of the villagers as well as of the inmates of the castle: this is still in use, and the water is of excellent purity. The Church is dedicated to St. ”