St Elli Church, Llanelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Elli Church |
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| 51°41′01″N 4°09′40″W / 51.6837°N 4.1611°W | |
| Location | Bridge Street, Llanelli |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Founded | Medieval, possibly 15th century |
| Dedication | Saint Elli |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 30 November 1964 |
| Architectural type | Church |
St Elli Church, also called St Ellyw's Church, is an Anglican church in the town of Llanelli, Wales. It is named after Saint Elli. This church was built a very long time ago, possibly in the 1400s. You can find it on Bridge Street, across from Llanelly House. It is a Grade II*-listed building, which means it is a very important historic building. It got this special status on November 30, 1964.
Contents
Discovering St Elli Church's Past
St Elli Church has a long and interesting history. It was a local church for the community even in medieval times. People first wrote about it in documents from the 1000s.
Early Church Ownership
In the 1200s, a powerful person called the Lord of Kidwelly helped support the church. After he passed away, the King or Queen took over this role. Later, in the 1300s, a famous person named John of Gaunt was connected to the church. He received money from the church's income.
Changes Over Time
Before the big changes of the Protestant Reformation, there were four smaller chapels that belonged to St Elli Church. These chapels were also part of the local church area.
Exploring the Church Building
The church building itself is very old. The oldest part is the tall tower on the west side. Most of the rest of the church was built later, between 1905 and 1906. A famous architect named George Frederick Bodley designed these newer parts.
Materials and Design
The church is built from strong, rough stone. It has pretty red sandstone decorations. The roofs are made of green slate tiles, and the top ridges have terracotta tiles. You can see an octagonal (eight-sided) chimney between the main roof sections. There is also a large entrance porch on the south side.
The West Tower
The church's tower has a special top edge called a corbelled parapet. Halfway up the south side of the tower, there is a clock. On the north side, there is a square staircase that goes up the tower.
Why St Elli Church is Special
St Elli Church was officially named a Grade II*-listed building in 1964. This means it is considered very important because of its beautiful inside and its special historical items. Experts from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales keep records about this church. They have old photos and files about its history and design.
