Colva Church

If you would like to see what a medieval village church was really like then a visit to the Grade II* listed St David’s is certainly worth your while. At some 380 metres high up in the beautiful Radnorshire hills, St David’s is one of the highest churches in Wales. The current building dates back to the 13th century and it is believed there was an earlier Celtic church on the site. Set within a remote sheep farming community St David’s lies on an old drovers’ road between Gladestry and Glascwm. The views from the churchyard over the valley are stunning and visitors come from far and wide to appreciate the beautiful setting and enchanting atmosphere.There are fragmentary wall paintings and texts on the walls; these had been whitewashed over and were only discovered in the 1980s and although they are now much abraded they are extremely rare. The illustrations are thought to be very early (13th century) and the texts likely 16th century painted over earlier illustrations. Some words can still be deciphered.

Free entry but donations to the Church are very gratefully received, as it is a constant struggle to keep this rare, fascinating and architecturally significant building open.