THE KNIGHTS IN WALES
The Knights Hospitallers held several key estates across medieval Wales, including Slebech in Pembrokeshire—their Welsh headquarters—along with commanderies at Ysbyty Ifan in Conwy, and lands in places like Dinmore, Pembroke, and parts of Glamorgan. These sites served both religious and administrative roles, supporting their mission of care, charity, and crusade.
The Knights Hospitallers in Wales
SLEBACH - The Knights Hospitallers at Slebech: A Forgotten Powerhouse in Pembrokeshire
Hidden within the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the Commandery of Slebech was once a major centre of medieval faith, power, and hospitality. Established around 1161, the estate was gifted to the Knights Hospitaller by Wizo the Fleming, Lord of Wiston, under the patronage of the Clare Earls of Pembroke.
Spanning 100 acres with its own mill, fishpond, and the Church of St John, Slebech quickly became a vital rest stop for pilgrims on their way to St Davids Cathedral, one of Britain’s most important pilgrimage sites. After Pope Calixtus II’s decree in 1123, journeys to St Davids gained immense spiritual significance—making Slebech a busy and essential hub.
Sitting on the Eastern Cleddau River, Slebech was also a key point for Knights departing for or returning from the Crusades. Local tradition suggests that the hearts of fallen Knights were returned here for burial, some in the church crypt, others on nearby Slebech Island, where a 12th-century sword was later discovered.
By the 14th century, Slebech had grown into the wealthiest Hospitaller estate in Britain outside of Clerkenwell, with 31 churches under its control and an annual income of £307—around £380,000 today. In 1338, the community at Slebech included Commander John de Frouwyck, two brothers of the order, a chaplain, four corrody holders (laypeople granted lifelong food, clothing, and shelter by the Knights), and thirteen servants.
Despite its prosperity, the obligation to offer constant hospitality to pilgrims was a heavy responsibility.
Today, the estate’s medieval past lingers in the evocative ruins of St John's Church, where the Hospitaller cross still stands proudly above the entrance. The Knight’s Way, an ancient path through Canaston Wood to Templeton, invites visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Knights.
Slebech remains a place where the stories of pilgrimage, crusade, and chivalry still echo through the landscape.
Check Out our Blog Entry on the Knights Hospitallers at Slebech by Clicking Here
Ysbty Ifan
TEMPLETON
PEMBROKE
BONVILLESTON
CASTELLON
KEMEYS COMMANDER -
Kemeys Commander, a small rural settlement near Usk in Monmouthshire, preserves an important medieval connection with the military religious orders. Its name reflects this association: “Commander” is linked to the idea of a commandery or preceptory, the administrative centres through which orders such as the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller managed their lands.
The earliest connection appears to have been with the Knights Templar. All Saints’ Church at Kemeys Commander is recorded as having been under Templar patronage, and the place-name itself suggests that the church and surrounding estate formed part of a Templar holding in the Welsh Marches. However, the surviving evidence does not clearly identify the original donor or the exact date of the gift. It is therefore safest to describe Kemeys as a Templar-associated church and estate, rather than as a major resident preceptory.
After the suppression of the Knights Templar in the early 14th century, many former Templar properties passed to the Knights Hospitaller. By 1338, Kemeys appears in the Hospitaller survey of Prior Philip de Thame as “Keimeys.” The estate was modest but valuable, consisting of one messuage, 120 acres of land, and the church held “in proprios usus,” meaning that the income of the church was assigned to the Order’s own use.
The recorded value of the estate was as follows: the messuage was worth 2 shillings per year; the 120 acres of land, valued at 3 pence per acre, produced 30 shillings; and the church was worth 50 shillings annually. This gave Kemeys an identifiable yearly value of £4 2s. Although small compared with larger commanderies, it was a useful income-producing estate, helping to support the wider religious, charitable, and military work of the Hospitallers.
The messuage probably represented a house or farmstead with associated yards and outbuildings. The land would have been worked by local tenants or agricultural labourers, overseen either by a lay steward, bailiff, or a representative of the Order. The church would have required a priest or chaplain to serve the local parish, even though its income was controlled by the military order. There is no firm evidence that a community of Templar or Hospitaller brothers permanently lived at Kemeys; it may have functioned more as a small dependent estate than a fully staffed commandery.
Today, the clearest surviving reminder of this medieval past is All Saints’ Church. Although the present building is largely later medieval, it stands on a site with 13th-century origins and retains important historic features, including its medieval screen and rood beam. The surrounding hamlet, with its farms, cottages, church, and position in the bend of the River Usk, still reflects the rural landscape in which the Templars and Hospitallers once held land and ecclesiastical rights.
Kemeys Commander therefore offers a valuable example of how the military orders operated in Wales: not only through great castles or large preceptories, but also through smaller rural estates, parish churches, farmland, rents, and local religious patronage.
The Knights Hospitaller Gower Pilgramage -
Wales was an important stronghold for the Knights Hospitallers, as their main rivals, the Knights Templar's
held only small pockets of lands within Wales, making them important for Pilgrims visiting St Davids & Wishing hospitallity along the way, or at the Commandery of Slebech wishing to depart for the Holy Lands. At One time Slebech had upto 31 Churches attched to it, some of which were along the Gower & Pembrokeshire Pilgramage route below
ILSTON -
Tucked away in the peaceful countryside of the Gower Peninsula, St Illtyd’s Church at Ilston is a remarkable medieval church with much deeper spiritual roots. The site is traditionally believed to have begun as an early Christian religious settlement, possibly a simple 6th-century monastic cell, later absorbed into the development of the medieval church.
The earliest written reference to a church at Ilston is usually given as 1119, showing that Christian worship had been established here long before the arrival of the military religious orders. The present church is largely 13th century, with its strong medieval tower, chancel, and stonework reflecting the period when Gower was under powerful Marcher lordship.
Ilston’s most significant link with the Knights Hospitaller came in 1221, when the church was granted to the Order by John de Braose, lord of Gower. The grant connected this quiet Welsh parish with the wider network of the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, an international religious military order whose Welsh estates were administered through important houses such as Slebech in Pembrokeshire.
The Hospitallers’ holding at Ilston appears to have centred on the church and its patronage, rather than a large resident preceptory. This meant that the Order held the right to present a priest to serve the parish and may also have received income connected with the church, such as tithes or rectorial revenues. The evidence does not suggest that a community of Hospitaller brothers lived permanently at Ilston; instead, it was most likely served by a parish priest, while the Order benefited from its ecclesiastical rights and income.
For the people of medieval Ilston, the church remained the centre of worship, burial, and community life. Local parishioners, farmers, tenants, and clergy would have known St Illtyd’s not as a distant military institution, but as their parish church — even though its patronage belonged to one of the most powerful religious orders in medieval Europe.
The Hospitallers retained their rights at Ilston until the Reformation. After the Dissolution, when the Order’s possessions in England and Wales were taken into royal control, the patronage of the church passed to the Crown.
Today, St Illtyd’s Church remains a place of peace, worship, and reflection. Its ancient setting, medieval architecture, and Hospitaller connection make it one of Gower’s most atmospheric historic churches. At Ilston, visitors can still sense the layers of Welsh Christian history: from early Celtic devotion, through Marcher lordship, to the medieval world of the Knights Hospitaller.
PENMAEN -
The original Penmaen Church is believed to have been abandoned and gradually buried by sand in the early 14th century, a time marked by climate change and violent storms along the south coast of Gower. The church once stood on the Burrows, not far from the ruins of Penmaen Old Castle, which overlooks the stunning Three Cliffs Bay.
Today, the remains of the church are largely hidden beneath the sands, but visitors can still see two prominent grassy banks nearby. These are thought to be the earthworks of a simple 12th-century motte and bailey castle, which is still marked on local maps.
By the 14th century, a new Gothic-style church was built further inland, along what is now the main South Gower road. This new church was dedicated to St John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, who had held the living of the original Penmaen Church.
Though much of the old church has been lost to time and the shifting sands, its story remains an important part of Gower’s rich medieval heritage, closely tied to the influence of the Knights Hospitallers in the region.
PENRICE -
St Andrew’s Church at Penrice, on the Gower Peninsula, is one of the area’s most atmospheric medieval churches. Standing close to the historic settlement of Penrice and near the remains of Penrice Castle, the church reflects the close relationship between lordship, parish life, and religious patronage in medieval Wales.
The church has early medieval origins, with parts of the nave and chancel thought to date from the 12th century. Further additions, including the tower, transept, and porch, were likely made during the 13th century. Its setting within what was once an important medieval village gives St Andrew’s a particular historical significance.
The link between Penrice and the Knights Hospitaller came through the Order’s important Welsh commandery at Slebech in Pembrokeshire. The church of Penrice was granted to the Hospitallers by the local Penrice family, probably in the late 12th century. Through this grant, St Andrew’s became part of the wider network of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, a religious military order known both for its care of pilgrims, the sick, and the poor, and for its military role in the Crusader states.
The Hospitallers’ holding at Penrice appears to have centred on the church and its patronage, rather than a resident commandery or large estate. This meant that the Order likely held the advowson — the right to present or appoint the parish priest — and may also have received income connected with the church, such as tithes or rectorial revenues. There is no firm evidence that Hospitaller brothers lived permanently at Penrice; instead, the church was probably served by a secular priest while its patronage and income belonged to the Order.
In the Middle Ages, Penrice was a significant local settlement. It is remembered as having been one of the most important villages in Gower, with markets and fairs drawing people from the surrounding area. St Andrew’s Church would therefore have stood at the heart of local life. It was not only a place of worship, but also a centre for community gathering, parish business, and religious identity.
The large medieval porch is especially interesting. In many parish churches, porches were used for more than simply entering the building. They could be places where legal agreements were witnessed, notices were given, and parish matters were discussed. At Penrice, this feature helps us imagine the church as a busy centre of medieval village life, closely connected to the community it served.
After the Reformation and the Dissolution of the religious houses, the lands and rights of the Knights Hospitaller in England and Wales were taken into royal control. The Hospitaller connection at Penrice came to an end, but the church itself remained as a visible reminder of the Order’s medieval presence in Gower.
Today, St Andrew’s Church, Penrice still preserves much of its medieval character. Its ancient stonework, historic setting, and connection with the Knights Hospitaller make it an important part of Gower’s religious and medieval heritage. Penrice reminds us that the Hospitallers’ story in Wales was not only found in great commanderies such as Slebech, but also in parish churches, local communities, and quiet rural landscapes.
PORT EYNON -
The village of Port Eynon, located on the south-western tip of Gower, takes its name from the once-thriving port that served the local community and traders along the coast.
The village church is dedicated to St Cattwg of Llancarfan, and tradition holds that the site was originally founded in the 6th century by St Cenydd, who brought Christianity to Gower as part of his missionary work.
The first stone church on the present site was built in the late 12th century, and like many churches in Gower, it came under the patronage of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem. In 1165, Robert de Mare gifted the advowson (the right to appoint the parish priest) to the Knights, linking Port Eynon to their wider network of influence.
St Cattwg’s Church remains a testament to the deep religious history of Gower and its connections to one of the most powerful medieval military orders in Europe
RHOSSILI -
The first recorded mention of St Mary’s Church, Rhossili dates to the period following the Norman conquest of the Gower Peninsula. Between 1135 and 1230, William de Turberville granted the church at Rhossili—along with those at Landimore and Llanrhidian—to the powerful Knights Hospitaller of St John at Slebech in Pembrokeshire.
The church’s dedication to the Virgin Mary is believed to have originated in the 12th century, as confirmed by historical records (Merrick, ed. James, 1983). For centuries, the Knights Hospitaller held the right to appoint the rectors of Rhossili until the dissolution of the order in 1540. Following this, the Crown assumed patronage until the disestablishment of the Church in 1920.
Today, St Mary’s Church stands as a quiet monument to this remarkable history. Visitors can still see the original Norman doorway and font, architectural reminders of its medieval past. The church also features a Leper Squint—a small window through which those suffering from leprosy could observe religious services without coming into contact with the main congregation, reflecting both the social challenges and compassionate practices of the time.
St Mary’s remains a treasured part of Rhossili’s heritage, beautifully overlooking the coastline and welcoming visitors to explore its rich story.
LLANMADOC -
Llanmadoc and the Knights Hospitaller: A Hidden Chapter in Gower’s Sacred Past
Tucked away at the western edge of the Gower Peninsula, Llanmadoc is a place rich in history and legend. Tradition tells us that St Madoc established a church here as early as the 6th century, and the present stone church, dating from the 13th century, stands as a lasting reminder of the site’s long spiritual heritage.
Within the church, several ancient features survive. A crude pillar cross is set into the west wall, alongside a boundary marker carved with a cross and smaller crosslets—remarkably similar to those found at Garway, a church also once held by the Knights Hospitaller. These markers are believed to date from the 7th to 9th centuries, suggesting that Llanmadoc’s sacred significance extends far beyond the medieval period. The church’s simple Norman font adds further weight to its deep-rooted history.
In the 12th century, Llanmadoc became part of the estates controlled by the Knights Templar. The manor was attached to the Preceptory of Garway in Herefordshire, a key Templar stronghold. Historical records note that 60 acres of Llanmadoc’s lands were farmed by local tenants, while an additional 50 acres were held in demesne, worked directly for the Templars’ own profit.
Following the suppression of the Templars in the early 14th century, the Sheriff of Carmarthen was instructed to arrest the Templar brothers at Llanmadoc. According to tradition, the sheriff made no haste, taking three days to arrive while charging his fee by the day. By the time he reached Llanmadoc, his expenses nearly matched the entire annual value of the estate.
After the Templars’ dissolution, control of the church and manor passed to the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem. The advowson (the right to appoint the parish priest) would have transferred to the Commandery of Slebech in Pembrokeshire, bringing Llanmadoc into a more local network of Hospitaller estates.
The Templars, and later the Hospitallers, are also believed to have operated a mill near Cheriton, close to the Burry stream and the Church of St Cadoc. The building thought to have been the medieval mill now serves as a pottery shop near St Cadoc’s Church.
Although the grand days of the Templars and Hospitallers have long passed, Llanmadoc still carries the quiet legacy of these legendary orders. The ancient stones, winding paths, and stories woven into the landscape invite visitors to pause and imagine the footsteps of knights, pilgrims, and farmers who once shaped this sacred corner of Gower.
CHERITON -
Landimore: Lost Church of the Knights Hospitaller
Just east of Llanmadoc, along the banks of the Burry stream, lies the ancient manor of Landimore. Its Welsh name is thought to mean ‘Church by the Sea’, a fitting title for this once-significant settlement.
The manor was later acquired by the de Turberville family, who also gifted several churches in the Gower region to the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem. Among these was the church of Llanrhidian, Rhossili, and one referred to in medieval records as ‘Llandunnor’. Historians now widely agree that ‘Llandunnor’ was most likely a misrecording or corruption of Landimore, and that the original church granted to the Hospitallers would have stood here.
It is believed that the church at Landimore was abandoned by the 13th century, possibly due to coastal erosion or flooding from the encroaching sea. As the settlement declined, the nearby church at Cheriton appears to have been built to serve the local community, possibly replacing the lost church at Landimore. This would also explain Cheriton’s close proximity to both Llanmadoc Church and the mill originally held by the Knights Templar.
The timing of Cheriton’s construction may coincide with the dissolution of the Templars in the early 14th century, when their lands, including the mill near Llanmadoc, passed to the Knights Hospitaller. Together, these sites formed part of the wider Hospitaller estate that shaped the spiritual and agricultural life of this part of Gower.
Though little now remains of the medieval church at Landimore, its story survives in the landscape and in the enduring connections between the churches, mills, and manors that once belonged to these powerful military orders.
LLANRHIDIAN -
The striking stone church of St Rhidian and St Illtyd in Llanrhidian has deep medieval and possibly early Christian roots. According to tradition, the church was built in the 13th century by the Knights Hospitaller of St John, on the site of an earlier religious settlement founded in the 6th century by Saint Rhidian.
The church and surrounding estates were gifted to the Hospitallers by William de Turberville, a prominent Norman landowner who was instrumental in establishing several Hospitaller holdings across Gower. Records show that religious buildings already stood here as early as 1167, when the Knights began to develop the estate.
In the 14th century, the church was enlarged with the addition of a chancel and a substantial west tower. The tower’s massive, fortified construction suggests that it may have served a defensive purpose, likely offering refuge in troubled times. Local tradition also holds that the tower was used as a navigation beacon for sailors, with a fire sometimes lit at its summit to guide ships along the Gower coast.
The Knights Hospitaller retained patronage of the church until 1540, when the Welsh commanderies were dissolved as part of Henry VIII’s wider suppression of the monastic orders.
One of the church’s most curious features lies just inside the porch—a mysterious carved stone, sometimes referred to as a ‘Leper Stone’. Measuring around two metres in length, the stone bears intricate carvings of human and animal figures. Traditionally, leper stones were placed outside churches to collect alms for sufferers of leprosy, often featuring a small indentation where coins could be left. The true origins and meaning of the Llanrhidian stone remain a mystery, adding to the site’s rich layers of history and legend.
LOUGHER -
The parish of Loughor, situated on the estuarine banks of the River Loughor (Afon Llwchwr) in western Glamorgan, holds a notable connection to the medieval Knights Hospitaller. Between 1156 and 1184, Henry de Newburgh gifted the advowson (the right to appoint the parish priest) of the Church of St Michael in Loughor to the Knights Hospitallers of the Commandery at Slebech.
Although the original medieval church no longer survives, the present Church of St Michael stands on the same site, having been completely rebuilt in 1885. The gift of this church helped extend the reach of the Hospitallers across South Wales, strengthening their influence in the region both spiritually and economically.
The Knights Hospitaller Pembrokeshire Pilgramage
AMROTH
Around 1150, the parish church of St. Elidyr in Amroth, along with nearby land, was granted to the Knights Hospitaller—also known as the Knights of St. John. This influential order, based in Slebech to the north, played a significant role in the local community and the broader pilgrimage network of the time.
One of the unique privileges associated with the church was its status as a sanctuary. Outlaws could seek refuge here, provided they agreed to leave the country permanently afterward.
The Knights Hospitaller were also known for supporting pilgrims traveling the route from Amroth to the sacred site of St Davids. Their holdings included 50 acres of land and two "ploughlands," underscoring the importance of their presence in the region
TEMPLETON -
The Origins and Medieval Planning of Templeton
The name Templeton is widely believed to have originated from the Templars’ Farm. Historical records from 1282 refer to the settlement as Villa Temparil, meaning "the village of the Templars," and also as Villa Templarorium Campestris—"the village of the Templars in the fields." These early names reflect the area’s strong connection to the Knights Templar.
By 1283, Templeton was also noted for its burgesses—specifically burgesses de vento, meaning "of the wind." These were traders who, while not property owners within the village, were granted the right to enter and leave freely to conduct regular commerce.
The oldest surviving buildings in Templeton today are found at Templeton Farm. However, it is likely that the original Templar manor once stood at the site of the Medieval Sentence Castle, which sits on the hill overlooking the village. This would have been a moated manor house, strategically positioned to oversee the surrounding lands and the tenants living below.
The layout of present-day Templeton is a classic example of deliberate medieval planning. The village is arranged along a single main street, with houses fronting the road and long, narrow plots—known as burgages—stretching out behind each dwelling. This structured design is still visible today, and the surrounding fields retain the tell-tale narrow strips that mark the remnants of the medieval open field agricultural system, later enclosed but still etched into the landscape.
Templeton’s carefully planned medieval character, combined with its Templar heritage, makes it a fascinating example of a settlement shaped by both history and design
MARTLETWY -
The Sad Story of the Church of St. Marcellus, Martletwy
Nestled in the quiet upper reaches of the Eastern Cleddau, within the parishes of Martletwy and Lawrenny and the historic medieval Barony of Carew, stands the Church of St. Marcellus—a once-sacred place now in an almost ruinous state, in urgent need of care and attention.
The Church of St. Marcellus is believed to have ancient origins, possibly as a pre-Conquest ecclesiastical foundation. In the 12th century, John FitzRaymond de Martletwy, Lord of the Manor, granted the church, along with a substantial portion of land in the northern part of the parish, to the Knights Hospitaller at Slebech. This generous gift included 240 acres, strengthening the influence and holdings of the Knights of St. John in the area.
Sadly, in 2011, the church was scheduled for partial demolition and was set to be preserved only as a managed ruin. What remains today is a poignant reminder of its deep medieval roots and the generations who worshipped, served, and found sanctuary within its walls.
The story of St. Marcellus is not just a chapter of the past—it is a call for preservation and care for what little is left of this once-significant landmark.
MINWEAR -
The Church of Womar and the Knights of St. John
Around 1150, the Church of Womar was granted to the Knights of St. John by Robert, son of Lomer—a name of Norman Norse origin. Although the church is dedicated to Womar, it is believed that over time, the name of its founder, Lomer, may have been mistakenly linked or confused with Womar.
Despite extensive restoration work carried out in 1874, the church still preserves key elements of its original structure, including the nave and supporting stone pillars. Originally, the building would have consisted of a single chamber, but over the centuries, several additions have been made.
As part of the grant, the Hospitallers also received 540 acres of surrounding land along with the advowson (the right to appoint the parish priest) of the church. The memory of the Knights of St. John is still reflected in the church’s architecture today, particularly in the modern circular windows on either side of the building, a subtle nod to their enduring legacy.
UZMASTON -
The Uzmaston area in Pembrokeshire, Wales, holds significant historical connections to the Knights Hospitaller. The Church of St. Ismael in Uzmaston was originally granted to Worcester Cathedral, but by before 1130, it had passed into the hands of the Knights Hospitaller at Slebech.
The Knights' influence in the area grew steadily, and the advowson (the right to appoint the parish priest) of St. Ismael's Church was officially granted to the Knights of Slebech, likely before 1169. The Hospitallers maintained a strong presence across the local river, holding lands that reinforced their role in the spiritual and agricultural life of the region.
Uzmaston's ties to the Knights Hospitaller remain an important part of the area's rich medieval heritage
PENDERGEST -
Prendergast, historically recorded as Prendelgaste, was a medieval village and parish on the edge of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire. Today it forms part of the wider town, but in the Middle Ages it was a distinct settlement with its own parish church, St David’s Church, at the heart of local religious life.
The medieval link with the Knights Hospitaller came through their important Welsh commandery at Slebech. Around 1130, Wizo, lord of Wiston, together with his son Walter and grandson, also named Walter, granted the church of St David at Prendergast to the Hospitallers. The grant was later confirmed around 1165, when the church was described as “the church of St David of the vill of Prendelgaste.”
This means the Hospitallers’ connection at Prendergast appears to have centred on the church and its patronage, rather than a full resident manor or commandery. The Order likely held the right to present the priest and may have received income connected with the church, such as tithes or other ecclesiastical revenues. There is no firm evidence that Hospitaller brothers lived permanently at Prendergast; instead, the church was probably served by a parish priest, while its patronage was controlled through Slebech.
In medieval Prendergast, the church would have served the local community of villagers, tenants, farmers, craftsmen, and parishioners. It was the place where people worshipped, marked the seasons of the Christian year, baptised their children, married, and buried their dead. Although the Hospitallers may not have been physically present day by day, their authority over the church connected this small Pembrokeshire parish to the wider international Order of St John of Jerusalem.
The importance of this grant lies in its early date. It places Prendergast among the Hospitallers’ early ecclesiastical holdings in west Wales and shows how the Order built its presence not only through land and commanderies, but also through parish churches and local patronage.
Today, the surviving reminder of this medieval link is St David’s Church, Prendergast. The church still retains medieval fabric, including elements thought to date from the 12th century, a 13th-century font bowl, and later medieval additions. Although the surrounding settlement has changed greatly over time, St David’s remains the key visible link between Prendergast, the medieval parish community, and the Knights Hospitaller of Slebech.
RUDBAXTON
Rudbaxton, near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, has an important medieval link with the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem. The connection centred on St Michael’s Church, the parish church of Rudbaxton, rather than on a resident commandery or preceptory.
In the early 12th century, the church living of Rudbaxton was granted to the Hospitallers, whose main west Wales commandery was at Slebech. Through this grant, Rudbaxton became part of the wider Hospitaller network in Pembrokeshire, alongside other churches and estates that helped support the Order’s religious, charitable, and military work.
The Hospitallers most likely held the patronage of the church, meaning they had the right to present or appoint the priest, and may also have received income connected with the parish, such as tithes or other ecclesiastical revenues. There is no firm evidence that Hospitaller brothers lived permanently at Rudbaxton. Instead, the church would have continued to serve the local community through a parish priest, while its patronage was controlled through the Order’s house at Slebech.
Medieval Rudbaxton would have been a rural parish community made up of local villagers, tenants, farmers, and labourers. For them, St Michael’s remained the centre of worship, baptism, marriage, burial, and parish life, even though its wider authority was linked to one of the most powerful religious military orders of the Middle Ages.
Today, St Michael’s Church, Rudbaxton remains the clearest surviving reminder of this Hospitaller connection. The church retains medieval features, including a 12th-century font, and continues to stand as an important witness to the long Christian history of the parish and its medieval link with the Knights Hospitaller of Slebech.
ROCH -
LETTERSTON -
The Church of St Giles in Letterston stands as the most significant surviving feature of the village’s medieval past. The church has been at the heart of the community since at least the 12th century, likely founded alongside the establishment of the Anglo-Norman manor in the area.
By 1130, the church was formally recorded when it was granted to the Knights Hospitaller of Slebech by Ivo, son of Letard. While much of the current structure dates to the 19th century, important medieval features remain, including a later medieval piscina and a tomb effigy visible inside the church.
Just outside the churchyard once stood the holy well known as Ffynnon Shan Shilin, although it is no longer visible today. Many believe this well was originally called Ffynnon San Silin (St Sulien’s Well), which may suggest that the church’s earliest dedication was to St Sulien. It is possible that when the church relocated to its present site in the 12th century, the dedication was anglicised to St Giles.
In medieval times, such wells were highly valued for their supposed holy and healing properties. Even though these beliefs were discouraged after the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, they often continued in rural communities for centuries.
The church of St Giles and its surrounding history offer a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual life, traditions, and enduring medieval heritage of Letterston.
ROSEMARKET
LLANFAIR
AMBLESTON -
St Mary’s Church, Ambleston – A Medieval Gift to the Knights Hospitaller
Ambleston, sometimes historically rendered as Amblestone, is a rural parish in Pembrokeshire with a medieval connection to the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem. The link centred on St Mary’s Church, rather than on a resident commandery or preceptory within the village itself.
In the Middle Ages, Ambleston formed part of the wider ecclesiastical network of the Hospitallers’ important Welsh commandery at Slebech. Slebech was the Order’s principal house in west Wales and controlled a number of churches, lands, and revenues across Pembrokeshire. Ambleston appears to have been one of the parish churches attached to this network.
What the Hospitallers held at Ambleston was most likely the church and its patronage. This meant they may have held the right to present or appoint the parish priest, together with income connected to the church, such as tithes or other ecclesiastical revenues. There is no clear evidence that Hospitaller brothers lived permanently at Ambleston, so it is best understood as a Hospitaller-held parish church rather than a full commandery.
The original donor of Ambleston to the Hospitallers is not securely identified from the evidence currently available. Some of the early Pembrokeshire churches connected with Slebech were associated with grants by Wizo, lord of Wiston, and his family, who were important early patrons of the Hospitallers in the region. However, unless a specific charter for Ambleston is confirmed, it is safer to say that the church became attached to Slebech through early medieval patronage in Pembrokeshire, rather than naming Wizo as the definite donor.
In medieval Ambleston, St Mary’s Church would have served the local parish community of villagers, tenants, farmers, and labourers. The day-to-day religious life of the parish was probably led by a local priest, while the wider rights and income of the church were controlled through the Hospitallers at Slebech. For local people, the church remained the centre of worship, baptism, marriage, burial, and parish life.
Today, St Mary’s Church, Ambleston remains the clearest surviving reminder of this medieval connection. Although the Hospitaller presence is no longer visible in the form of a preceptory or monastic buildings, the church continues to mark the place where the Order once held ecclesiastical rights within the Pembrokeshire landscape.
Ambleston is therefore a good example of how the Knights Hospitaller operated in Wales: not only through major commanderies such as Slebech, but also through smaller parish churches whose patronage and revenues supported the Order’s wider religious, charitable, and military work.
WALTON EAST
CLARBESTON
CILMAENLLWYD
CILSANT
Blaidon (tbc)
Bochinfield (tbc)
Cuffern (tbc)
Dolbyyrvawr (tbc)
Stacpole (Stackpole)
Stokesbury
Welsh Hook
Llanarthney - St Davids Church Advowson
BOULSTON - Church (Including the Chapel of Pincheton)
NEWCASTLE EMLYN (ESGERMAENHIR) - Church Of CASTELHAN
SKOMER ISLAND - Church of Garland(e)ston Possible location of
Llandimore - Church (No longer standing)
Woodstock - Chapel of Wodstoke
CEREDIGION - St Ffraids Church
SWANSEA - Chapel
Medieval Swansea had an important but often overlooked connection with the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem. The link centred on a chapel recorded in medieval documents as being “at Swenesch”, meaning Swansea. This chapel was part of the wider estate network of Slebech Commandery, the Hospitallers’ principal house in west Wales.
The key medieval record states:
“Et apud Swenesch una capella affirmata, pro viij marcis.”
This translates as: “And at Swansea, one chapel leased out for 8 marks.” The same account also records church pensions worth 62s 8d per year. The chapel itself therefore brought in 8 marks, equal to £5 6s 8d annually — a useful income for the Hospitallers.
The chapel is believed to have been the medieval chapel of St John-juxta-Swansea, later associated with Greenhill and the site of the modern St Matthew’s House. This connection is especially fitting, as the Hospitallers were also known as the Order of St John, and their original mission included caring for pilgrims, travellers, the sick, and the poor.
The origins of the Swansea chapel appear to lie in the 12th century. Around 1165, Robert son of Walter is said to have given land to the Knights Hospitaller to establish a chapel dedicated to St John the Baptist. Later, in 1221, John de Braose, lord of Gower, granted further lands to the Hospitallers, including areas identified with Millwood and Borlakesland, later associated with modern Hafod and Manselton. These grants helped form the later parish of St John-juxta-Swansea.
The chapel probably began as a chapel rather than a full parish church. It stood outside the core of medieval Swansea, near an important route into the town. This made it a meaningful location for the Hospitallers, whose work combined worship, hospitality, and care. Travellers approaching Swansea, local residents outside the town centre, and those in need of spiritual support may all have known the chapel as a place of prayer and refuge.
The word “affirmata” in the medieval account means that the chapel was leased or farmed out for a fixed yearly rent. This suggests that Hospitaller brothers did not necessarily live there permanently. Instead, the chapel and its income were probably managed through Slebech, while day-to-day worship may have been served by local clergy.
After the Reformation and the Dissolution of the religious houses, the Hospitallers’ possessions in England and Wales were taken into Crown hands. The medieval chapel did not survive as a standing 12th-century building, but its site continued in religious use. The later church of St Matthew’s stood on the historic St John/St Matthew’s site, and today Matthew’s House occupies the location.
The survival of this tradition gives the site a powerful continuity. A place once linked with the medieval Knights Hospitaller — an order founded on hospitality, care, and Christian service — is today again associated with welcome, food, dignity, and support for those in need.
Swansea’s Hospitaller chapel reminds us that the Order’s presence in Wales was not limited to great commanderies such as Slebech. It also existed in smaller chapels, parish communities, roadways, and places of practical Christian care.
KNIGHT HOSPITALLER FIGURES in WALES
Wales & the Hospitallers: Learn Who Shared Their Chapter of History Here
SLEBECH -