St Thomas à Becket Chapel, Milford Haven facts for kids
The St Thomas à Becket Chapel is a very old and special building in the town of Milford Haven. It's known as a Grade II listed building, which means it's important for its history and looks.
This chapel was built way back in 1180. It was named after a famous person called St Thomas Becket. The chapel sits on the north side of the Haven estuary, offering amazing views of the water.
Contents
What Was the Chapel Used For?
A Place of Worship and a Lighthouse
The St Thomas à Becket Chapel was more than just a church. It was a Catholic place of worship, where people went to pray. But it also had another very important job: it was a "Beacon Chapel." This means it acted like a lighthouse, helping sailors find their way safely along the coast.
There were two other chapels nearby that also helped guide ships, but they are gone now. The St Thomas à Becket Chapel was also connected to a place called Pill Priory, which was a type of monastery.
From Chapel to Storage
Over many years, the chapel started to fall apart. By the 1600s, it was mostly ruins. In 1644, during a time of war, soldiers known as Parliamentarian forces used the ruined chapel. Later, it was used to store things for a nearby military post called a "battery," which likely held cannons.
The Chapel's Comeback
A Pigsty and a New Beginning
Believe it or not, in the 1900s, the old chapel was used as a pigsty (a place for pigs) and a stable for animals!
But in 1930, people decided to save the chapel. They raised £1,000, which was a lot of money back then. The building was carefully rebuilt, and the work finished in 1938.
Reopening as a Chapel
After being rebuilt, the chapel was blessed again and became an Anglican "chapel of ease." This means it's a smaller church that helps a main parish church, making it easier for people in the area to attend services.
Inside the Chapel
The chapel is built from rough stone with a slate roof. It has a small main area called a nave and a smaller section at the front called a chancel. Both parts have rounded ceilings that look like barrels, called barrel vaults.
Inside, the walls are simple and plastered. There are small spaces in the chancel walls called niches. You can also see a curved wooden beam called a rood beam. The windows on the south side of the nave have beautiful stained glass. These windows were added in 1935 and 1939 to honor Sir Hugh Thomas of Castle Hall.
In 2012, the chapel was sold to a private owner, even though many local people wanted it to stay public.
