St Ellyw's Church, Llanelieu

St Ellyw's Church, is a redundant church in the village of Llanelieu, Powys, Wales. It is designated by Cadw as a Grade I listed building,[1] and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.[2] It is sited at the edge of the Black Mountains within the Brecon Beacons National Park.

St Ellyw's Church, Llanelieu
St Ellyw's Church, Llanelieu
St Ellyw's Church, Llanelieu Location in Powys
OS grid reference	SO 184 341
Location	Llanelieu, Powys
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church in Wales
Website	Friends of Friendless Churches
History
Dedication	Saint Ellyw
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	28 September 1961
Architect(s)	Baldwins of Brecon (restoration)
Architectural type	Church
Groundbreaking	13th century
Completed	1905
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone rubble, slate roof

There is a tradition that Saint Ellyw was a granddaughter of King Brychan, the 5th-century king of Brycheiniog.[3]

History

The church dates from the 13th century with additions in the 15th century. The south porch was built in the 16th century. In 1905 Baldwins of Brecon carried out a restoration, and added a bell turret. Further repairs were undertaken in 1981.[1] The church was acquired by the charity, the Friends of Friendless Churches, in 1999.[2] The charity holds a 999-year lease with effect from 19 November 1999.[4]

Architecture

Exterior

It is constructed in sandstone rubble and has a slate roof. Its plan consists of a single undivided cell with a south porch and a gabled bell turret at the west end. Immediately to the east of the porch is a blocked medieval door and there is a narrow priest's door dating from the 13th century further to the east. The windows on the north side of the church are lancets while those on the south side, and at the east and west ends, are two-light windows.[1]

Interior

The 14th century rood loft and the upper part of the rood screen

The floor of the church is stone-flagged, and there is a one-step rise between the nave and the chancel. Between them is a 14th-century rood screen complete with its loft. This is described as being "an exceptional regional example of a medieval rood screen".[1] The loft is painted blood red, and it has quatrefoil openings to allow a view of the altar from it.[2] The plastered walls of the church exhibit a variety of paintings, some from the medieval period, and some from the post-Reformation era. On the west wall are depictions of Adam and Eve standing on each side of a tree, and elsewhere are flower patterns, all probably dating from the medieval period. Later paintings include biblical texts, creeds, commandments, royal arms, and figures with drapery. The sanctuary is paved with tomb slabs and contains a double piscina on the east wall and an aumbry in the south wall. The font is octagonal with a 17th-century oak cover. The pulpit dates from the early 18th century. There are two oak pews from the 17th-18th century. On the walls are memorial tablets.[1]

Assessment and present day use

The Cadw citation states that the church is listed Grade I because it is "an important country church that has retained much of its medieval interior, including wall paintings and an exceptional rood screen".[1] The church is used by local people for concerts and meetings, and it is a venue for the annual Talgarth Festival.[2][5]

References

1. Cadw, "Church of St Ellywe  (Grade I) (6622)", National Historic Assets of Wales, retrieved 2 April 2019
2. Llanelieu St Ellyw, Friends of Friendless Churches, archived from the original on 1 July 2011, retrieved 25 July 2010
3. Baring-Gould, Sabine; Fisher, John (1908). Lives of the British Saints. 2. Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. pp. 447–449.
4. Churches and chapels owned by the Friends of Friendless Churches: Details for Visitors, London: Friends of Friendless Churches, June 2010
5. What's On, Talgarth Festival, retrieved 25 July 2010