User:St gerard marjella/sandbox

The first St. David’s Church in Tywyn, Gwynedd was actually situated off Brook Street, in a building which had started life back in 1820 as a Welsh Presbyterian Chapel and had continued to be used as such until 1871. Over the years it was adapted for various commercial uses - eg. as a factory for making such diverse things as grate blacking and ginger beer. In the 1920’s it even became a cinema. Finally in 1935 it was loaned to the Catholic Diocese of Menevia as a church. The building was owned by the Corbett Family of the nearby Estate of Ynysmaengwyn. Thanks to the generosity of the Corbett family they furnished with fine chairs and hassocks and could accommodate 150 people. From 1935 this remained the place of worship for local Roman Catholic residents and holiday visitors until the new church of St David was completed in 1968.

The new St. David’s Roman Catholic Church on Corbett Avenue, Tywyn was consecrated by The Right Reverend John Petit, Bishop of Menevia, on the feast of Christ The King, 25th October 1969. The Church community of St David continued to flourish under the priestly shepherding of the Reverend Charles Lloyd. 1994 was the year of his retirement and he moved away to the rural country village of Meifod in the neighbouring county of Powys.

In 1995 Father Peter Wilkie was appointed Parish Priest and was succeeded in 1998 by Father Ian Dalgleish who remained in this appointment until Father Charles Lloyd returned to Tywyn as Priest-in-Charge in 2000.

By 2001 it had become necessary for some structural work to be undertaken to strengthen the Church building. This meant the addition of a supporting buttress in the central courtyard. The rendering on the building was renewed and windows were double glazed. Problems with St David's iconic tower rendered it necessary to replace the tower's copper cladding in 2002. After nearly thirty seven years service in 2006 the entire heating system needed refurbishment.

St David's unique and ground breaking design has earned it acclaim and is has landmark status in the town. In its way it is synonymous with the forward thinking skill and work of designers, architects and craftsmen of Britain in the 1960s.

2009 was another milestone in the history of the Church of St David as in marked the 40th Anniversary of it consecration as a House of God. We take this opportunity to give heartfelt thanks to our benefactors, both past and present, and remember those who continue to willingly give of their time and labour. All are remembered in our Parish mass each Sunday.