St Daniel's Church, Pembroke

St Daniel’s Church stands on a low hill about one kilometre south of Pembroke Castle. The site is ancient, first used in the 6th century by Saint Deiniol, who is said to have lived there as a hermit before becoming the first Bishop of Bangor. The well on the grounds once drew pilgrims seeking miraculous cures, and the spot is also linked with Saint David. The present building, a small rubble-stone structure with a slate roof, dates from the 14th or 15th century. It has a nave, a chancel, a western tower and a spire. The church has been repaired several times, most notably in 1780, 1849 and 1893. By the late 19th century it served only as a chapel for the adjoining cemetery. In 1951 it was recognised as a Grade I-listed building. The graveyard remains open, with a public footpath crossing the overgrown churchyard between Windmill Farm Caravan Park and Campsite. Visitors walk past weathered headstones to the quiet building, its slate roof partly covered by moss. Inside, the nave and chancel are plain and empty, the air still and cool. The tower on the west end rises above the hilltop, offering views across Pembroke and its castle. The old well lies within the grounds, its stone surround partly hidden by grass. The footpath continues through the churchyard, linking the site with the campsite beyond.