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Worms Head, Rhossili
St. Illtyd's Church, Oxwich
Gower's locational map
     

 
Click to enlarge
 
Click here for service times
For times open in August see church notice board outside the Oxwich Bay Hotel.
     

Grid Reference 504861

The chancel of this church, which stands in woods, overlooking Oxwich Bay, marks the original sixth century Celtic cell.

Entry to the church is through the west door, in the tower, where there are two tombstones mounted against the walls with the following plaques:

"GRAVE COVER STONE" found used as a slab, face upwards, inside the inner door of the church, one side having been cut away level for this purpose. The fragment of the inscription which remains proves that it commemorates William De La Lake, who was rector of Oxwich, from 1320 to 1323 AD.

The stone was placed here in 1890.

 

"GRAVE COVER STONE" of the early 14th or late 13th century. Found face downward in the nave of the Church and placed here in 1590. The inscription translated reads:

"Hugh formerly the pious rector of Saint Illtyd's Church, lies here."
     
In a niche in the north wall lie the figures of a knight and his lady.
 
     
Legend suggests that St. Illtyd himself brought the Sutton Stone font to Oxwich.
 
     
Looking out over the vastness of Oxwich Bay from the graveyard, behind the Chancel, I came across this gravestone which I found particulary poignant. It was inscribed:
 
"A SAILOR
OF THE GREAT WAR
ROYAL NAVY
1ST FEBRUARY 1916

KNOWN UNTO GOD"
     
     

 

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