As a comparison for the frescos in Kempley Church - how they might once have looked Pre-Reformation - this is the church of Llandeilo Tal-y-Bont, originally by a curve on the River Llwchwr on the marshes at Pontardulais, and now faithfully rebuilt at St Fagans - the Museum of Welsh Life at Cardiff. It was well known by Edward Thomas, who once famously wrote of sheltering in the porch in a thunderstorm and watching the incredible lightening across the marshes. (He and Robert Frost were also very familiar with Kempley!) I met a lovely lady recently, whilst I was volunteering, who knew this church well when it was still in use, and she told me that "everyone went to services there. It was very popular with the young folk too, and the pathway to it was called "the monkey walk"!!! I daresay a good few courting couples remember the church too.
Now, when the church - which had sadly fallen into disrepair since being deconsecrated around 1970 - was being dismantled around 1984 prior to taking it to St Fagans, they found the most amazing Medieval paintings - all carefully whitewashed over of course from Cromwellian times. They span quite a few periods, but most date from 1490 to 1530. These pictures give you an idea of the colour and magnificence of some of our early churches. Christ on the Cross and above him, Noah and his ark.
Imagine the chequerboard windows of Kempley in their full glory, like this archway.
The Last Supper, and is the previous one Christ's journey to Jerusalem?
St Christopher, who would grace the wall opposite the entrance, for the benefit of travellers and pilgrims. Presumably you would need a bit of help to cross the River Llwchwr, which is still tidal at this point. If you subsequently died, once you had seen St Christopher 's image, you would then go straight to heaven
Saints (or disciples?) and scenes from Christ's passion.
The name of the church, by the way, derives from the Llan (holy meeting place) of St Teilo, by the crossing place/bridge across the river. Llandeilo tal-y-bont. A church was on that site from the 6th century onwards, although the rebuilt church dates from the 13th C.
HERE is an interesting blog link, which gives you much ore detail about the church.
