St Ellyw's Church, Llanelieu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Ellyw's Church, Llanelieu |
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St Ellyw's Church, Llanelieu
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| 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 |
St Ellyw's Church is an old church in the small village of Llanelieu, located in Powys, Wales. It's a special building because it's been given a Grade I listing by Cadw, which means it's very important historically. The church is now looked after by a group called the Friends of Friendless Churches. You can find it near the beautiful Black Mountains, which are part of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
People believe that Saint Ellyw, who the church is named after, was the granddaughter of King Brychan. He was a king in the 400s.
Contents
History of St Ellyw's Church
The church was first built in the 1200s. More parts were added in the 1400s. The south porch, which is like a covered entrance, was built in the 1500s.
In 1905, a company called Baldwins from Brecon helped fix up the church. They also added a small bell turret for the bells. More repairs were done in 1981.
In 1999, a special group called the Friends of Friendless Churches took over the care of the church. This group is a charity that helps save old churches. They have a very long lease, which means they will look after the church for 999 years!
Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
St Ellyw's Church is made from sandstone rubble, which are rough, broken pieces of stone. It has a roof made of slate. The church has one main room, with a porch on the south side. At the west end, there's a gabled bell turret, which is a small tower for bells.
Next to the porch, there's an old door from the Middle Ages that is now blocked up. Further along, there's a narrow door from the 1200s, called a priest's door. The windows on the north side of the church are tall and narrow, called lancet windows. The windows on the south side, and at the east and west ends, have two parts.
Inside the Church
The floor inside the church is made of stone slabs. There's a small step up between the main seating area, called the nave, and the area near the altar, called the chancel.
Between these two areas, you'll see a special wooden screen from the 1300s. It's called a rood screen and it even has a loft (a platform) on top! This screen is very rare and important for the area. The loft is painted a bright red color. It has special openings shaped like four-leaf clovers, called quatrefoils, so people could see the altar from above.
The walls of the church are covered in plaster. You can see many old paintings on them. Some are from the medieval period (Middle Ages), and some were painted after the Reformation. On the west wall, there are pictures of Adam and Eve standing on each side of a tree. You can also see flower patterns. These are probably from the medieval period. Later paintings include parts of the Bible, creeds (statements of belief), and the Ten Commandments. There are also paintings of the royal arms and figures with draped clothes.
The sanctuary, which is the area around the altar, has tomb slabs on the floor. It also has a double piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels) on the east wall and an aumbry (a small cupboard) in the south wall. The font, used for baptisms, is shaped like an octagon and has a wooden cover from the 1600s. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is from the early 1700s. There are also two old oak pews (church benches) from the 1600s or 1700s. You can also see memorial tablets on the walls, remembering people who have passed away.
Why St Ellyw's Church is Important Today
Cadw says that St Ellyw's Church is a Grade I listed building because it's "an important country church that has kept much of its medieval interior." This includes the old wall paintings and the amazing rood screen.
Today, local people use the church for different events. They hold concerts and meetings there. It's also a place where parts of the yearly Talgarth Festival take place.
