St Elli's Church, Llanelly

Church of St Elli
"monuments of unusually high quality"
Church of St Elli
Location in Monmouthshire
Coordinates: 51°49′37″N 3°06′56″W / 51.827°N 3.1155°W / 51.827; -3.1155
Location Llanelly, Monmouthshire
Country Wales
Denomination Church in Wales
History
Status parish church
Founded early 14th century
Architecture
Functional status Active
Heritage designation Grade II*
Designated 19 July 1963
Architectural type Church
Administration
Parish Llanelli
Deanery Greater Brecon
Archdeaconry Brecon
Diocese Swansea and Brecon
Clergy
Vicar(s) The Reverend C J Bevan

The Church of St Elli, Llanelly, Monmouthshire, Wales, is a parish church with its origins in the 14th century. The church underwent three major restorations, in 1867–1868, 1897 and 1910–1911. It remains an active parish church.

The church is dedicated to the 6th-century Saint Elli, who may have been a daughter or granddaughter of King Brychan, or a male disciple of Saint Cadoc.

History

The church dates from the 14th century, or earlier,[1] but little remains of this period.[2] The nave is medieval[1] but its walls were all rebuilt in the restorations of the 19th and 20th centuries.[2] The first of these rebuildings took place in 1867–1868, and was undertaken by the architect Joseph Nevill of Abergavenny.[1] The spire dates from the restoration of 1897 by Baldwin of Brecon.[2] The final rebuilding was undertaken by J. Vaughan Richards of Crickhowell in 1910–1911.[1]

Until local government reorganisation of 1974, the parish of Llanelly was in the historic county of Brecknockshire[2] and St Elli's remains an active church under the administration of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, although the parish is now in Monmouthshire.[3]

Architecture and description

The church is built of Old Red Sandstone rubble.[1] It comprises a nave with west tower, chancel, aisle and porch.[1] The architectural historian John Newman considered the "broad and squat" tower the most memorable feature.[2]

The interior contains some monuments of "unusually high quality"[1] which are noted in the church's listing record for its Grade II* designation.[1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Listed Buildings – Full Report – HeritageBill Cadw Assets – Reports". Cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net. Retrieved 2017-08-12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Newman 2000, p. 279.
  3. ↑ "Benefices". The Church in Wales. 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2017-08-12.

References

  • Newman, John (2000). Gwent/Monmouthshire. The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-071053-1.
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