St Stephen's Church, Llanstephan, near Glasbury-on-Wye

 

After we went to the Craft Shop, we were tootling along the back lane when I saw a sign for St Stephen's Church and did an abrupt left turn.  Got there more by luck and instinct than any signage - although there was a sign when we needed it most, but it was a fair old climb. Here is the stone-roofed lytchgate - apologies for missing off the end part on the left which once housed the parson's horse.

The approach was through a ring of yew trees, and below, one of the fine memorial stones.  The carving is beautiful (and doubtless expensive at the time).

It is high up on a hillside above the Wye valley, and commands beautiful views.

This was such a beautiful oak tree, I had to take a photo.

The tower of the church is believed to be 14th C. with some tinkering in Victorian times in all probability.  The windows and doors of the church are 19th C replacements and the 15th C porch remodelled in the same period. The nave is 13th C. with an original South doorway from this date.  More information HERE.

Fabulous views across to the Brecon Beacons.

In 1818, there was a description of a rood screen and loft, in oak, "very elegantly carved, with rosettes and vine leaves intertwined, supported by oak pillars", whilst a stone slab formed the communion table.  Alas, now all gone. Presumably the Victorian makeover did for them what the Reformation didn't.  More info HERE.

The font is probably 14th C, raised on a 19th C base.

The stone pulpit is 19th C.

This photo came out, a beautiful tribute to Hugo Phillips, 3rdBaron Milford of Llanstephan.

There was a beautiful triptych overlooking the altar.

Part of the old furniture of the early church, where church documents and valuables would have been kept.

This was worth a visit, and the scenery stunning, even in winter.

Yesterday it was Keith's turn for the dentist (check up) and so we went to Llandovery.  I couldn't park opposite as I had hoped, so got the wheelchair out to get Keith there.  However, after he'd seen the dentist, he walked out of the surgery, then across the road and back to the car!  This is the furthest he has walked in months, and I was delighted.  Only 75 yards or so, but considering he's just been going up and down the kitchen this is progress indeed.  Partly the increased levels of Thyroxine treatment and partly the new patch, which works round the clock to stop dopamine being blocked.  This has been a game changer.  Before, when the Rasagaline wore off (mid-afternoon) Keith hit a brick wall mobility-wise.  Fingers x'd he can continue to make progress.  We are going to try a short walk up by Jewsons' tomorrow, as that has just been resurfaced and is nice and level.

St Stephen's church, Old Radnor

 "Hisdoryan", whose blog I follow, calls this church "A Medieval Gem" and writes eloquently about it (see link).  Again, it is one I have driven past a few times since moving to Powys. It was well worth a short detour to explore. 

What a beautiful door - real attention to detail. Remains of water stoup on right.

The font was vast - I have seen bigger, but having been to so many churches this year, I am struggling to think of which has that honour.   According to local history, it was made from one of a group of nearby standing stones.  I haven't been checking out the prehistory of Powys, mainly because a lot of it requires climbing steep hills, and I am very unfit these days. HERE is a link to these particular stones and I must seek them out.

I loved the naturalistic designs in this yellow and amber glass.  Not something you often see used in an entire window.  I am now pretty sure that it's Medieval glass, because Hisdoryan shows a photo of St Catherine with these same yellow glass motifs at the bottom.

The view down through the church, with the almost filigree lace effect of the rood screen.

One of three hatchments on the walls.

I spotted several areas of the original Medieval tiles too.

Glass by Shrigley and Hunt of Lancaster. This firm of glassmakers was extant from the 1750s until as recently as 1982.

The roodscreen was very beautiful, as you can see.

A section of the oak waggon roof with Tudor rose bosses.  Sorry it's not a better photo.

The magnificent 16th C organ, possibly the oldest in Britain.

This magnificent memorial is to the Lewis family.  George Cornewall-Lewis was Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary to Lord Palmerston.

Lesser mortals, but still clearly important in the community.

It is busy in town this morning - Bikes and Beer is on at the showground and the fields at the back covered in tents and bikes and, I'm sure, comatose bodies!

Keith is much brighter today and we will be doing our Tai Chi exercises shortly.  He is working on neck exercises and pushing his chin back (difficult as his neck is so tight).  I need to finish assembling an old quilt I bought unfinished (I've since finished it).  Big simple hexagons.  Needs to be out of my house and in someone else's, soonest.

Theo got on well at the Vet's - his teeth aren't too bad, but his ears full of mites again.  That's been treated with a combo spot-on type of treatment so everything - worms, mites, fleas etc done at once.  Now I have ear cleaning drops to administer every couple of days -you can imagine what fun that is single-handed and only a towel on my side, which protesting Theo is wrapped in.  I got him some shredded tasty cat food too which he is eating.

Have a good weekend all.