Religion

Since the town began, religion has been an important and prominent part of peoples lives. This is evident by the presence of three churches located near to the centre of the town. Many more chapels and churhes have been built since.

To view the Churches and Chapels of Haverfordwest, click on the links in the column on the right.

The town also had a community of friars located at various places around the town, but mainly at Haverfordwest Priory and at St. Saviour's.

Haverfordwest Priory
The Augustine Priory of St. Mary's and St. Thomas the Martyr was founded in about 1200, by Robert FitzRichard, lord of Haverford. It lay south beyond the town walls, on the banks of the western Cleddau River. The priory flourished, being granted the towns churches and acquiring property and church tithes in the town and surrounding parishes.

In 1534, William Barlow, a church reformer, was elected prior and he was soon at odds with the church establishment. Two years later he became Bishop of St. David's and embarked on the reformation of the church within his diocese. The priory was closed in 1536 when it was valued at £133. A moderately wealthy monastic house for Wales.

Haverfordwest Friars
The Dominican, or Black Friars, spread the gospel to people by public preaching, so a large town like Haverford was ideal. They were in Haverford by 1246, although the location of their houses is not known. After 1256 they rebuilt St. Saviour's within the town in 'a spot more useful to them', between the Hole-in-the-Wall and Friars Lane, both just off Bridge Street.

The house was not rich as the friars were dependant on charity. In 1247, King Henry III donated 10 silver marks towards the building of their church. Haverford was on a pilgrim route to St. David's and pilgrims could view the friary's own holy relic - an image of the Virgin with a miraculous taper. St Saviour's was closed in 1538.