St Anne's Church New Hedges

Focal Minister for St. Anne’s - Revd. John Morgan

Church Warden and Organist for St. Anne’s - Jean Williams

Church Warden for St. Anne’s - Des Brace

A History of St Anne’s Church, New Hedges

New Hedges village hall was first built in 1853, and opened on 1st June that year. The intention was that it should be used as a village school for the poorer people of the area to give them the opportunity for better lives. It was the first purpose built school in the area – even Tenby didn’t have a purpose-built school building at the time.

Records show that six months after the school was opened, on 4th January 1854, the building was licensed for Divine Worship. John Duncan Meyers, an ordained Deacon, was licensed to the Assistant Curacy of New Hedges on 12th March 1854 at a salary of £25 per annum. From then onwards, until 1928 the building was used as a school and a church combined. On 5th July 1928 the church moved to the present building at the very Southern end of the village.

The school closed on 20th October 1961. Over 1,000 pupils had passed through its doors. A thriving Sunday School, however, continued to be held in the building until 1976.

Records show that at the time the building became a church, the Church Wardens were William Walhinton and Thomas Thomas. They were succeeded by John Henry Nash, until his death in 1925 and he, in turn, was succeeded as Warden by his son John Llewellyn Nash. The Verger at this time was Richard Butland.

In 1928 a new corrugated zinc church building was erected on land donated by the Nash family of Well Park, at the Southern edge of the village. It was one of a similarly designed range of churches known affectionately as “Tin Tabernacles” that were erected across South Wales and now remains one of only a few which are still in use today. The church will hold a congregation of about 50 worshippers.

The new church at St. Anne’s was dedicated by the Bishop of St. David’s the Rt. Revd. David Lewis Prosser on 5th July 1928. He and the large number of clergy attending, had to robe in the parlour of the adjacent Well Park farm, as there was no room in the church building. John Llewellyn Nash continued as Warden until 1964. He was succeeded by Howard Brace until his death. His son, Des Brace and Jean Williams are the current Wardens of the church. During the 1940’s Herbert Mason was Choirmaster. Organists, over the years have been Mr. Walter Bushell, Mrs. Wright and Miss Jean Williams, the present organist. The altar at present in the church is the same one which was originally in the old school building and was moved when the new church was built.

St. Anne’s has always been proud of its strong Sunday School. Superintendents, over the years, have included Mrs. Dorothy Thomas, Mrs. Hilda Owen, Mrs. Sarah Thomas, Mr. Herbert Mason, Mr. Roger Vickers. After Mr. Vickers, the Assistant Curates of St. Mary’s Church ran the Sunday School until, sadly, its closure in 1976.

In 2000, major refurbishment works were carried out on the building, and church bell, and a service of re-dedication was performed by the Rector of St. Mary’s, Canon David Jenkins, assisted by the Archdeacon of St. David’s, the Venerable Graham Davies on the feast day of St. Anne on 27th July 2001. Members from all the other churches in the then benefice attended the impressive service. A beautifully designed new altar cloth, made and donated by Mrs. Doreen Hammersley had previously been dedicated by Revd Mark Soady.

St. Anne’s continues to have a faithful and dedicated membership who worship regularly each Sunday, and who continue to play a full and active part in the life of the parish. With the appointment in 2015 of the Revd John Morgan as focal minister to the church, St. Anne’s can look to the future with confidence.