St Teilo's Church, Llandeloy

St Teilo's Church, Llandeloy, is a redundant church in the village of Llandeloy, Pembrokeshire, Wales, dedicated to Saint Teilo. It has been designated by Cadw as a Grade II listed building,[1] and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.[2]

St Teilo's Church, Llandeloy
St Teilo's Church, Llandeloy, from the southwest
St Teilo's Church, Llandeloy is located in Pembrokeshire
St Teilo's Church, Llandeloy
St Teilo's Church, Llandeloy
Location in Pembrokeshire
51°53′51″N 5°06′58″W / 51.8975°N 5.1162°W / 51.8975; -5.1162
OS grid referenceSM 856 266
LocationLlandeloy, Pembrokeshire
CountryWales
DenominationChurch in Wales
WebsiteFriends of Friendless Churches
History
DedicationSaint Teilo
Architecture
Functional statusRedundant
Heritage designationGrade II
Designated1 March 1963
Architect(s)John Coates Carter
Architectural typeChurch
StyleArts and Crafts
Groundbreaking1926
Completed1927
Closed2002
Specifications
MaterialsStone, slate roof

History

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The church probably originated in the 12th century, and later served as the village school. However, by the 1840s it was a ruin.[3] It was rebuilt in 1926–27 from the ruins, and was designed by the architect John Coates Carter.[2] The design followed Arts and Crafts principles, that is, to use the simplest available local materials, without attempting to copy the style of any particular period.[1] After the church was closed in 2002, it was taken into the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.[2]

Architecture

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Exterior

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St Teilo's is constructed in stone rubble with a slate roof.[1] It has a "humble exterior".[4] At the west end is a double-arched gabled bellcote. Its plan consists of a nave and a chancel, with a south transept.[1] The chancel inclines slightly to the right.[3] The west window is "tiny". In the north wall of the nave is an arched doorway and a long window, and in the south wall are two square-headed windows. At the east end is a single pointed window. In the north wall of the chancel is a long narrow window and the south wall has two square-headed windows. In the transept are two long lancet windows on the south wall. All the windows have rough (not ashlar) jambs.[1]

Interior

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The interior is "beautiful and evocative".[4] It is long and low, with exposed stone walls.[1] The rood screen with its loft dominates the interior.[4] The loft has a carving of the Crucifixion on its front. In the angle between the rood screen and the north wall is a simple three-sided pulpit. The loft is reached by a stairway in the north wall. In the nave, the pews are simple, with open backs.[1] There are two stone fonts. One is built from ancient stones found during the excavation carried out before the church was rebuilt. The other is octagonal, standing on three steps. The reredos consists of a rectangular wooden panel painted in gesso and coloured with tempera. Its frame is elaborately carved. Also in the church are a stoup, and a pair of piscinas carved from slate.[4] The stained glass in the east window and in the transept date from about 1926, and that in the nave south windows from about 1936.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Cadw, "Church of St Teilo (Grade II) (14397)", National Historic Assets of Wales, retrieved 2 April 2019
  2. ^ a b c Llandeloy St Eloi, Friends of Friendless Churches, retrieved 8 April 2021
  3. ^ a b Saunders, Matthew (2010), Saving Churches, London: Frances Lincoln, pp. 52–54, ISBN 978-0-7112-3154-2
  4. ^ a b c d Architectural History of Llandeloy, Friends of Friendless Churches, archived from the original on 1 July 2011, retrieved 1 August 2010