Uzmaston - St. David.

Described as `Ecclesia villa Osmundi,' Uzmaston was one of the churches granted by Wizo, the Fleming, Walter his son, and Walter the grandson of Wizo, to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem at Slebech.---Anselm's Confirm. Charter. In Sept., 1301, the preceptor of Slebech gave the advowson of Uzmaston to the precentor and chapter of St. Davids, for the maintenance of the fabric of the cathedral of St. Davids, and in March, 1302, this grant was confirmed by Bishop David Martin.---Stat. Menev.

It will be seen from the extract given below, that Bacon's Liber Regis attributes the dedication of the church to St. Ishmael, but it is evident that this must be a mistake, or else a subsequent dedication, as it is recorded in the Stat. Menev. that in the reign of Edw. 1, Geoffrey, son of Robert, ` dominus de villa Osmundi,' granted, for the good of his soul, to the church of `St. David de villa Osmundi' and to Master Walter de Greswent [probably a mistake of the scribe for `Trefwent], the rector of the said church and his successors, a messuage, garden. and an acre of land adjoining the road leading from Uzmaston to Wiston.

At the time of the grant in 1302 referred to above, the rectorship of Uzmaston was stated to be vacant owing to the resignation of `Master Walter de Trefwent, the late rector.---Stat. Menev. This is the only record of an individual rector of the church.

Described as Ecclesia Ville Osemundi, this church was in 1291 assessed at £4 for tenths to the King the sum payable being 8s.---Taxatio.

Osmundeston.-Ecclesia de Osmundeston non re hic quod inter ecclesias vicariorun choralium Meneven.---VaIor Eccl.

Under the heading `Not in Charge`:-Uzmaston alias Osmundeston Cur. (St. Ishmael). Chapter of St. Davids Patr. £5 1Os. od. certified value.---Bacon's Liber Regis.

In 1554 the tithes of Uzmaston were leased to William Philipps of Picton, Pems., Esq., for 40 years at the annual rent of £5 6s. 8d., the tenant to supply a curate to serve the church. This lease was renewed to the same lessee, and on the same terms in July, 1565. In July, 1600, John Philipps of Picton, Esq., obtained a lease at the same rent for the lives of himself, his wife Anne, and his eldest son, Richard Philipps, and in 1661 Sir Erasmus Philipps, Bart., was granted a lease for 21 years at the same rent. In 1682 George Lucy, gent, was given a lease for 21 years, which was renewed in July, 1690, to the same lessee. This lease seems to have descended, on the death of George Lucy, the tenant, to his wife Elizabeth, as in the Chapter Records there is a memorandum that a lease of the tithes for 16 years should be given to her. This intention, however, was never carried out, as on 24 July, 1706, a lease of the rectory of Uzmaston for 21 years was granted to Richard Sparks, gent., Elizabeth Lucy, the tenant consenting through her son George Lucy, gent.

In 1715 and again in 1734 the lease was renewed by Richard Sparks, who was an alderman of Haverfordwest, and died prior to 7 Mar., 1736-7, the rent on the latter occasion being advanced to £15 6s. 8d., and the curate's stipend being fixed at £10.

In 1741 a lease of the tithes was granted for 21 years to Sparks Martin of Withy Bush, Pems., gent, and John Barron, of Haverfordwest, M.D., at the rent of £15 6s. 8d., and a fine of £20, and in 1748 and 1756 the lease was renewed to the same lessees at the same rent as before, the fines paid being respectively £20 and £24. In 1763 the tithes were leased for 21 years at the same rent to Sparks Martin, Esq., and David Hughes, gent., the assignee of John Barron, M.D., the fine paid being 20 guineas.

In 1781 the Chapter decided that the next Ieae should be at rack rent without any fine, and in pursuance of this resolution, the tithes were leased for 21 years to Canon William Holcombe, at a rent of £66. In 1806 the tithes were rented by auction, and John Phelps of Withy Bush being the highest bidder, a lease for 21 years was granted to him at the rent of £135. In 1827 the tithes were rented to Sparks Martin Phelps, Esq., for 21 years at the rent of £120.

The present church of Uzmaston must have been restored or rather re-built about the year 1870, as an Act of the Chapter on 25 July in that year orders the chapter seal to be affixed to the deed authorising the rebuilding of the church.

On 20 Dec., 1907, a faculty was granted for putting up a window in the parish church in memory of Mr George Bland and Mrs. Anne Bland.

PerpetuaI Curates.

Graham Davies, Ó 2000.

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