St Elli

Situated in the heart of Llanelli, St Elli is the oldest church in the town. Originally a monastic site, the first reference to it is found in the Book of Llandaff in 1086. Queen Elizabeth I presented the church with a silver chalice in 1574 and it is said that Cromwell’s troops sought shelter and stabled their horses there. In the 18th century, John Wesley preached at the old Market Cross within the curtilage of the church on at least eight occasions.

The church has a fine Norman tower while the rest of the church had its last restoration in 1906 in a Gothic style. The interior has 28 exceptional Memorials to local personages including Walter Vaughan of Gelli Aur, Sir Thomas Stepney, a relative of Henry VII, William Chambers with his recently discovered Napoleonic connection and the Mansels of Stradey. 

The stained glass windows were designed by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones. The east window depicts the Crucifixion with Jesus occupying the central light (with a unique feature) and Mary and John either side. The upper parts depict angels bearing scrolls with suitable inscriptions. In the side lights are figures of St David with doves of peace on his shoulder on the left and St Elli on the right holding the tower of the church in his arms. The south window illustrates the Nativity and on a scroll across the lower part underneath a group of adoring angels, runs the message “Gogoniant yn y goruchaf i Dduw” (Glory to God in the Highest).

The altar is carved in British grain oak depicting the four apostles – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The reredos was carved by Harry Hemms of Exeter in alabaster rising in Caen stone with a canopied representation of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper carved in pink Ancaster stone. The font is 13th century.

The Lady Chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary is also a chapel of remembrance for the Fallen of WWII. A memorial to the fallen in WWI is situated in the grounds just before the Grade II listed lychgate.