Church of The Holy Trinity

Church of The Holy Trinity in Felinfoel is a Victorian parish church on the edge of Llanelli, in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales. It is a Grade II listed building and a quiet stop for anyone interested in church architecture, local history or the industrial heritage of the Llanelli area.

Where is the Church of The Holy Trinity?

The church stands in the village of Felinfoel, just north of Llanelli town centre. Its coordinates are roughly 51.6994, -4.1439. The building sits prominently in the village, so the spire is easy to spot as you approach. It is a short trip from the centre of Llanelli, and Felinfoel can be combined with a wider visit to the town and the Carmarthenshire coast.

When was it built, and why?

The church was designed by the architect R. K. Penson and completed in 1857. It was consecrated on Trinity Sunday in 1858. It was built to ease the load on St Ellyw's, the old parish church of Llanelli, as the local population grew with industry in the nineteenth century. Much of the cost was met by the Nevill family, prominent local figures of the period.

At first the church still belonged to the parish of Llanelli. In 1879 the separate parish of Felinfoel was formed and Holy Trinity became Felinfoel Parish Church. Later it served as the mother church for two further churches in the parish.

What does the building look like?

The listing describes a Gothic style church in a large graveyard, which lies to the south of the building. A rubble boundary wall surrounds the churchyard on all sides. At the entrance stands a Gothic style timber lychgate with a tiled roof and steel gates. The original stone spire was later replaced with one covered in green copper, a change dated to the 1960s. The copper gives the church a distinctive profile in the village.

What is there to see in the churchyard and inside?

In the churchyard you will find a Celtic cross war memorial in granite, a quiet reminder of the local people lost in the wars of the twentieth century. The lychgate and the old boundary wall add to the atmosphere of a traditional Welsh village churchyard.

Inside, the church is noted for its stained glass. Three of the windows commemorate members of the Nevill family, linking the interior to the people who paid for the building.

Is it worth a visit?

Holy Trinity is not a large monument with an extensive visitor programme, so plan on a short stop rather than a full day. It suits people who enjoy exploring listed buildings, reading memorials and photographing Victorian Gothic architecture. A walk around the churchyard, a look at the lychgate and the war memorial, and a view of the copper spire make for a pleasant half hour.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the Church of The Holy Trinity? The architect was R. K. Penson. The church was finished in 1857.

When was it consecrated? On Trinity Sunday in 1858.

Is the church listed? Yes, it is a Grade II listed building.

What is the war memorial in the churchyard? A Celtic cross made of granite, standing in the grounds.

Who paid for the church? Mostly the Nevill family, who are also remembered in three of the stained glass windows.

Why is the spire green? The original stone spire was replaced with a copper one, which has weathered to green. The change dates from the 1960s.