Church bothering - St Bilo's church, Llanfilo

 Whilst I cannot hope to challenge Billy's photographs of this lovely church, here is my take on it.  Keith and I went there when we first came to Builth area, but sadly the church was locked.  He would have absolutely loved it too, as it has an amazing Rood Screen and other things of interest including the old wooden parish chest. 

Its earliest roots are in the 5th C, when it was dedicated to St Bilo, one of King Brychan's 24 childen (a daughter).  It's earliest roots are in the 12th C - guess who missed the ornamental lintel in the back of the church.

It "rivals Partrishow and Llanelieu in its beauty, peace and holiness" (Griffiths).  Having been to both these amazing early churches, I agree but think that Partrishow has the edge on holy atmosphere.

The stonework of the church mostly dates from the 14th and 15th C, and the tower was totally rebuilt in 1882, apparently as it had looked prior to this.  Work began on much-needed repairs just before WW1 (the lychgate was repaired in the 1920s, and dedicated to 3 local boys who went to War and never returned.)  Since the amazing rood screen dates back to Tudor times, it would have been a huge loss had it deteriorated still further, quite apart from the wonderful vaulted roof and many memorial stones inside.  W D Caroe carried out a sensitive restoration in the 1920s.

This area of carved wooden frieze over the Jacobean bible box shows that water ingress had taken its toll.

Inside the porch . . .

These two marks made on the door springers, are a rounded cross and a Maltese cross, both marks of consecration.  These would have been sprinkled with Holy water by the Bishop.

This is apparently the earliest thing in the church, as it predates the actual stone building, and is dated to around 900 AD, so pre-Norman.  Caroe was rather distainful of it, considering it "a rather ancient example though rather featureless . . .".   I think it's a shame it was limewashed . . .

Looking down the nave towards the Rood Screen and the chancel beyond. It's always good to see the original pews still in place - 6 of them are Jacobean and made of oak. One is dated 1630.  The Havard pews recall the family and its Norman ancestors.  The beautiful ribbed barrel-vaulted ceiling gives an airyness to the church. It dates to the 15th C, with some wood replaced as necessary.

This is a Rood Screen dating from Tudor Times (Henry VIII), although by the time the 20th C repairs were carried out, the figures of the Saints needed to be recarved and replaced.  This was sensitively done by Nathaniel Hitch, an expert in early church carvings.  You can see the lighter wood demonstrates the carvings above the vine and pomegranates which had to be completely renewed.

I just love this evil-eyed Wyvern, spewing out the interlace of Vine leaves, grapes and pomegranates. (The Pomegranate was the device of Catherine of Aragon).

A carved heart with two hands and one foot (the other being missing).  I have never seen this anywhere else.

Christ on the Cross, above the Rood Screen, is again a later replacement, I assume by Nathaniel Hitch.

Window in the South wall enlarged, I believe, by Caroe at the time of the major renovations.

The Altar, which appears to have had repairs too.  I desperately wanted to get at it with some Linseed oil, to feed and darken it!

This wasn't mentioned in any of the information, so one can only assume a grave cover from earlier times?

The old (cracked) Gabriel bell ("for ringing the Angelus - a traditional Catholic resurrection prayer") dates from 1410 and was cast in Worcester, and is the oldest bell in the County.  It is marked with a Latin inscription which translates as "I have the name of Gabriel sent from heaven".  

The bible box (on stand) is Jacobean, as is the chair below.

The ancient parish chest, which is divided into two compartments - one for the lesser things, with just one lock latterly, but the scars of where two contemporary locks used to be.  The important records and documents - perhaps the chalice etc too - required 3 key holders to open it.  

Memorial slabs on the walls inside and out.

The old lychgate, originally built around 1680 - 1700.

As you can see, it is set in beautiful countryside.

Well, this won't do.  I have been writing this on and off all morning, alongside making bread (a Granary loaf to dough, in the breadmaker), stripping and washing my bedclothes, and the guest bedroom ones too. It's raining steadily outside and quite windy, and is like an Autumn day except it is very warm and humid.

I have phone calls to make, the Wayleave cheque to pay into my account (that has covered the cost of the Electricity for this month), my bed to make up fresh, vacuuming to do etc etc.  I got the car unloaded and all the boxes of stock put away yesterday, so that was a positive.  If the rain eases off a bit, I'll go out for a walk later.  Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are and whatever you are doing.