I visited here about a month ago but took such lousy pictures I needed a return visit. This lovely old church nestles on the shore of Llangorse Lake, near Brecon. It is an ancient site - dating back to the earliest of Christian times, when it was established around 450 AD and dedicated to St Gastyn, a Celtic saint who reputedly discipled all of King Brychyn's many children. (King Brychyn's court was at Talgarth, at the roots of the Black Mountains). Like many others in the Victorian period, the church was rebuilt, c.1848 - 1851. I think churches had been allowed to fall into a dreadful state of disrepair when so many of them needed rebuilding! The popular Gothic Revival Early English style of architecture was used and sadly I think very little of the Medieval church survived. As ever, Coflein gives a good appraisal.
The font, which had a lifting cover - the design is described as octagonal, heavily moulded with quatrefoils. I wonder what happened to the Medieval one? Rubble in the building walls I suspect.
The Mothers' Union banner, beautifully embroidered.
The stained glass includes works by Clayton & Bell (1872). Each of the windows had brass memorial plates dedicated to the Raikes family who lived at Treberfydd Manor house, a short walk away.
The Treberfydd Estate was purchased in the 1840s by Robert Raikes, who was a Tracterian (I had to look it up too!) and according to Coflein, the building features an almost complete Tracterian interior, designed by J LPearson (who was also responsible for the beautiful school next door).
Beautiful hand carving.
The windows are figures set in grisaille (black line on colourless glass).
The stencilling and painted ceiling were beautiful, and there were decalogues painted alongside the chancel arch.
Such attention to detail - beautiful wrought iron spirals and hearts.
As you can see, the Raikes family were well represented in the Military, and apart from those in the Army, other members were very high up in the Admiralty. The family had mining interests in Africa, and a few years back there was a clearance sale after one of the family members had died, and we bought a few pieces (ceramics and currency bracelet) from the auction.
The beautiful school. Now used as accommodation by the family.
Have a lovely Jubilee weekend. We are keeping a low profile and watching the racing.
A beautifully loved church is my first thought. Tracterians I am not sure of. An easy life spouting nonsense is my reaction to them but I suppose they had to do something with their lives.
ReplyDeleteHave never met one (a Tracterian that is!) but I should imagine they lived a very diligent, worthy and church-going life. One branch of the family began the first Sunday Schools, so that's a positive.
DeleteInteresting church. Really liked the wood carving, embroidered banner and Clayton and Bell window. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth seeking out if you're ever down that way.
DeleteNeglect saved the Saxon church in B.O.A. from Gothic revival.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, the Friends of Friendless Churches have saved many an old church which escaped renovation in Victorian times. Hard to say what state this was in by 1850s but quite possibly holes in the roof at the very least. Led to damp sermons and bats on dark Sunday evenings!
DeleteI'm keeping a low profile too and have just finished watching The Game Changers, a fantastic documentary. I LOVE your header photo ... what a view. Simply amazing.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend. xx
I'm a Monarchist, think the Queen is blardy amazing, but because of K's health problems, we can't go out and see what's happening. Left to watch bits on tv. It would have been nice to go Beacon-hunting but some friends have shared their photos.
DeleteThat view is stupendous. I'm going to hopefully get K at least to the carpark to enjoy that view, and we can have a car picnic. Hopefully when the pills start working, he may manage a bit of the walk along there too.
I went off on quite a side trip learning about Tracterians. It seems so strange to me to read about court cases over church rituals. Here that could never happen, at least not yet. It is a beautiful old church and those windows are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteStrange sort of lot. I suppose all the learned minds at Oxford took religion to higher levels.
DeleteIt is a beautiful old church but like many others, you wonder what it replaced.
Looks typical of the retorted churches you come across in both England & Wales, decoration is not something you come across in many churches. I see they have some older items in the church and the headstones look older than the church. I've driven past the road going there on the way to Builth when the road between Talgarth and Tretower was closed for the best part of two or more years.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful carvings, and those windows are just lovely. Must do some research now on Tracterians as I have never heard of them.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.