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Reconstructing St Teilo's church:
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Weekly diary on the reconstruction (Welsh language)The reconstruction of St Teilo's Church from Llandeilo Tal-y-bont is the St Fagans National History Museum's most exciting project to date. The Church, which is believed to have been built during the 13th century on an earlier Celtic settlement, is the first of its kind to be moved to an open air museum in Britain. It's social and architectural significance as a building has prompted the Museum to adopt new methods of interpretation. For the first time ever, the reconstruction process is being carried out in full view of the public, and adjacent to the site a temporary interpretation unit visually documents the project's history and its long-term objectives. This has proved to be an extremely popular attraction with visitors, many of whom return year after year to check on progress. This is the only place in Britain where such a project can be viewed.
Originally from Llandeilo Tal-y-bont, near Pontarddulais, St Teilo's ceased to be a working church in 1970. Due to the remoteness of its location on the banks of the Llwchwr estuary, it quickly became an easy target for thieves and vandals.
(Scroll down the page for a view of the church and valley in the 1960s)Although it was given a brief reprieve by 'Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments' in the early 1980s, its inaccessibility meant that an on-site rescue operation was not a viable option. In 1984, the Church in Wales officially offered the building to the Museum, and work began on the dismantling process in 1985.
The reconstruction of the Church in the Museum started in 1997, and an opening ceremony is scheduled for September 2007. It has been decided to present St Teilo's as it would have appeared pre-Reformation, circa 1520, and will therefore serve as a contrast to the Nonconformist Unitarian chapel that is already in the Museum's collection. This decision was reached following the discovery of several layers of pre-Reformation wall-paintings during the dismantling process, a number of which were rescued and conserved by the Department of Archaeology at Cardiff University. These paintings include images of popular medieval saints - such as St Catherine and St Christopher - and various scenes from the life of Christ, all of which will be replicated using natural pigments and binding agents in the finished Church.
Ensuring accurate replication of St Teilo's pre-Reformation features has been the most difficult aspect of the project so far. Corbel stones found in the masonry work during the dismantling process indicated the existence of a medieval rood screen and loft. Following a period of extensive research by the Museum's in-house carpenter and restorer, Ray Smith, an 'authentic' reproduction, based on other screens in the mid and south Wales region, will be carved by hand in 2006. Other pre-Reformation features - such as carved window mouldings - have also been recreated using traditional building techniques. This attention to detail is crucial in order to ensure that the finished structure is as accurate a representation of an early 16th century church as possible.
Once completed in 2007, St Teilo's Church will be unlike any other building on the Museum's 100 acre site. So much of modern Welsh history has been dominated by Nonconformity, it will be interesting to gauge the visitors' response to the sheer vibrancy of St Teilo's pre-Reformation interior. Indeed, places of worship are alien concepts to many people in today's secular society; for that reason, the interpretation of a medieval Church to a modern audience could prove to be a challenge. With this in mind, an educational programme is already underway in which the Church is linked with other on-site Tudor dwellings - Hendre'r-ywydd Uchaf and Y Garreg Fawr farmhouses. This places the Church within a much needed social context.
Although the Church will be presented as a pre-Reformation Catholic church, it is important to remember that St Teilo's was an integral part of a community right up until the 1970s. The inhabitants of Pontarddulais, and the surrounding area, have a strong emotional attachment to this Church, and the success of the reconstruction project depends on their continuing enthusiasm and support. The former incumbent of St Teilo's, the Reverend John Walters, remains a crucial link between the Museum and the local community. Each year, a drop-in session is organised at the Pontarddulais Mechanics Institute where former parishioners are encouraged to bring along any photos, documents or stories they may have about the Church. St Teilo's remains, and will remain, their church; the Museum is merely giving the old Church a new lease of life.
Elen Phillips
MORE:
Reconstructing St. Teilo's Church: In Pictures
your comments
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Joy Fuller from Sarratt, Hertfordshire
When my Great Great Grandfather was buried at St. Teilo's on 23 May 1845, aged 35, the note at the foot of the Burial Register records that "John Davies was Parish Clerk for 13 years in this Parish".
Tue Mar 24 15:54:33 2009
M D Davies of Pembrokeshire
My ancestors all worshipped at this beautiful church since time immemorial. They were the farming Morgans and Roberts families and all were christened, married and buried here, until late 18th century when many were dug up and re buried in Pontardulais.
Edmund Nash Leigh was Curate at the time. A man of the establishment, described as 'an example to the world and an ornament to the church' unlike the curate in 1684 who was reported by the Bishop as not having kept records and being totally illiterate.
I regret I am so old now I may never see it in all its glory, but in the meantime it is the screensaver on my computer.
Tue Dec 2 16:28:56 2008
Louise Woolf
I was always very close to this church as a kid because I went to Hendy school, and used to walk there down Bronallt hill. The whole marsh was always clear, with the arches bridge etc. Always felt Hendy school was on that same flatland the church was on, after the hills. Wish I'd gone to see it before it was taken away, and wish they could have restored it where it was. Its spirit belongs on that land.
Mon Oct 20 15:23:58 2008
Malcolm Thomas from Pontarddulais (now Malaysia)
I was told by my late parents that on one occasion in 1950 while walking down the "marsh" to see the "old church" we all went into the church. I went to the pulpit and announced that we would now "sing a song".I am thrilled that this piece of history has been preserved for future generations to admire.
Wed Nov 14 11:45:11 2007
Joy Jones living in SW Herefordshire
I was brought up in Pontarddulais in the late 60s and 70s and was always fascinated by the church and graveyard, particularly the graves of tiny children. When I was about 12 I used to talk to a couple of old ladies about the church and they related to me a time when horses where tethered within the church whilst the congregation worshipped. I am absolutely delighted the church has been preserved and cannot wait to go to St Fagans to see it.
Thu Nov 8 19:09:57 2007
Patrick Buck from Lexington Kentucky USA
I'm partially of Welsh descent (Jones and Davis) and am glad to see this fascinating preservation and restoration of a church in which some of my ancestors may, for all I know, have worshipped in.
Tue Oct 16 14:47:59 2007
Leah Jones, Cardiff
I was lucky enough to be part of the Church Project at St Fagans for two years, and can hardly believe that it's nearly finished! I remember walking on the roof before it had tiles on; I remember trying to explain to people what a 'rood screen' was - and by now you can see one there for yourself; I remember seeing the carpenters and builders at work, and thinking the end product was far away. By today, it feels like a church, and less like a building site. It has altars, a rood screen and loft, and bags of history. This building, which was left in disrepair, has been given a new lease of life. You have to see it to believe it, and it's well worth the trip.
Wed Feb 28 16:25:57 2007
Nathan Goss from Aberaeron
Hi! I was lucky enough to be involved as a carpenter for the roof of the project. Two years it took me to carve all the trusses, erect and fit the roof plus alot of elbow grease. I think that Ray Smith and the restoration boys have created a master piece, that will no doubt be part of Welsh history for years and years. The project was definitely the most challenging but satisfing that I have ever been involved in. I hope the people of Pontardulias are happy with what has been created!
Regards Nathan Goss.
Thu Feb 15 09:00:58 2007
Sandra Jones from Llanelli
I am so excited that this project is nearing completion! The history of this lovely church and the significance, primarily in a pre-Reformation light, serves as not only a point of education, but as a source of extreme pride of the people of Carmarthenshire and particularly of Pontarddulais. I am looking forward to seeing the church restored to her former glory!
Mon Feb 12 09:34:40 2007
Do you have any memories of St. Teilo's Church? What do you think of this project? Send in your comments here.
