St Elvis (Welsh: Llaneilfyw, [ɬanəilvəu]) is a parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales, about 4 miles (6 km) east of St David's. At 200 acres (81 ha) it is one of the smallest parishes in Wales[1] but its rector was previously the superior of the vicar of the church at Solva[2] (today dependent upon nearby Whitchurch instead).[3] The parish of Whitchurch and St Elvis together form the community of Solva.
| St Elvis | |
|---|---|
 The Dinas Fawr headlands beside the site of St Elvis | |
  St Elvis Location within Pembrokeshire | |
| OS grid reference | SM811240 |
| Principal area | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HAVERFORDWEST |
| Postcode district | SA62 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
Name
editThe name is a Latinized form of the Welsh saint Eilfyw, also well known by his Gaelic name Ailbe. Former forms of the name include Llanelvewe and Llanailfyw. According to Rhyddferch's 11th-century Life of Saint David, Elvis baptized Saint David[4] in AD 454 at Porth Clais in Dyfed.[5] (Note, however, that this dating seems unlikely.)[6]
History
editA 5000-year-old cromlech—including two early British tombs—lies nearby,[7] although they were damaged by a tenant farmer in the 19th century who removed two of the stones.
GENUKI notes church and chapel records dating from the 19th century, with two farms.[8] There is still a St Elvis farm[9] (Vagwr Eilw[7]) and the ruins of the earlier monastery and church, covered with blackthorn.[7] St Elvis's Well is also nearby and continued to produce 360 gallons an hour amid the 1976 drought.[7]
Religious sites
editThere is a shrine to St Elvis, located at 51°52′12.7″N 5°10′43.2″W / 51.870194°N 5.178667°W.
References
edit- ^ "GENUKI: St Elvis". Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ Breverton, Terry (2009). "Saint Elvis". Wales: A Historical Companion. Stroud: Amberley. p. 164.
- ^ GENUKI. "Whitchurch (Tre-groes)".
- ^ Everything2. "Saint Elvis".
- ^ Breverton, Terry. An A-Z of Wales and the Welsh. Christopher Davies, 2000.
- ^ The Catholic Encyclopedia. "St Ailbe". Hosted at New Advent.
- ^ a b c d "Saint Elvis" in Terry Breverton's Wales: A Historical Companion, pp. 164 f. Amberley Publishing (Stroud), 2009.
- ^ Hicks, Gareth (11 November 2007). "St Elvis (Llaneilfyw)". Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ^ St Elvis farm Solva Pembroke SA62 (Map). Google maps. Retrieved 26 May 2009.