Church of St. Dogfael, Meline, Pembrokeshire
A small sandstone church built for Sir Thomas Lloyd of Bronwydd Cered. Single apse ended slate roof over nave and chancel, the eaves set up a little for the chancel.
MELINE, PEMBROKESHIRE. - For taking down and rebuilding the parish church of Meline, near Cardigan. Plans, etc., at the Plough inn, Eglwyswrw, until 18th July. Tenders to the architect, Mr. Withers, 51, Doughty-street, London, on or before 20th July. [Building News 10 July 1863 page 540]
ST DOGFAEL, MELINE, PEMBROKESHIRE, — or what remains of it, — is a structure of thirteenth century date; but it is only a ruinous barn, without light or air, with clay floor, and only four seats. Mr. Withers proposes to build, just to the south of the present church, a new one, for £530. Here we have a small nave with south porch, and a chancel, ending in a three- sided apse, with a small vestry on the north side. The style is a plain, but good Pointed. Towards the west end of the nave there is a good octagonal belfry, with a low spire. The west window is a large circle, filled with bold, floriated circlets. Mr. Withers has thrown great character into this very unpretentious design. [Ecclesiologist Page 268}
MELINE, PEMBROKESHIRE - The new church of St. Dogfael, Meline, Pembrokeshire, was opened on the 12th inst., by the Bishop of St. David's. The new church is built from designs by Mr. Withers, architect, and consists of a nave 31 feet 6 inches, by 18 feet, chancel with apsidal end 20 feet 6 inches by 14 feet 6 inches, vestry north side of chancel, and south porch with a small western bell-gable. Accommodation is provided for 90 adults, all sittings been free and unappropriated. The chancel is furnished with stalls and subsilia, the altar is raised 5 steps above nave floor, covered with an embroidered cloth, and a simple reredos farmed of Minton's tiles rises above it. The east window of the apse contains a painting of the crucifixion by Messrs Layers and Barraud. The old bell, font, and a portion of the thirteenth century doorway rebuilt into new north wall, were all the remains of the old church capable of being reused. The style adapted is Early Middle Pointed, and from the situation of the church, being in a lowly wooded dingle, a more picturesque group is not to be found in Pembrokeshire. [Church Times 29 July 1865 page237]
