St David's Church in Colva, Powys, is a small, remote parish church with a rich history dating back centuries. While its exact origins are unknown, the present building has a core that is thought to be 13th century. However, it has undergone significant rebuilding, particularly in the 19th century. A notable historical feature is its connection to the nearby Glascwm, to which it was once attached as a chapelry. The church's isolated location on an old drovers' road has also made it a place of interest for walkers and visitors.
Architecturally, the church is a single-chamber structure with a deep 15th-century timbered porch at the entrance, which includes stone seats. Another key feature is the timber bell-turret at the west end. Inside, the church contains a font that dates to around 1200, which may have been salvaged from an even earlier building on the site. Perhaps the most fascinating internal features are the fragmentary wall paintings that were uncovered during a 1980s restoration. These include remnants of medieval paintings and later texts from the Reformation period, including a rare "memento mori" (a painted skull and crossbones).
Click here for more information of the architectural features of St David, Colva listed in the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust archives.
Click here for information on services at churches of the East Radnor Ministry Area of the diocese of Brecon & Swansea.