St Bilo's Church, is an active parish church in the village of Llanfilo, Felin-fach, Powys, Wales. The dedication is to Bilo, one of the 24 children of Brychan, a legendary 5th-century king of Brycheiniog. Dating from the 12th century, with later additions, the church was restored by W. D. Caröe in the early 20th century. St Bilo's is designated by Cadw as a Grade I listed building.
| St Bilo's Church, Llanfilo | |
|---|---|
 | |
  St Bilo's Church, Llanfilo Location in Powys | |
| 51°59′27″N 3°17′04″W / 51.9907°N 3.2844°W | |
| OS grid reference | SO 118 332 |
| Location | Llanfilo, Felin-fach, Powys |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | active |
| Dedication | Saint Bilo |
| Associated people | Reverend D E Thomas (priest) |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | W. D. Caröe (restoration) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | 12th century |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Swansea and Brecon |
| Archdeaconry | Brecon |
| Deanery | Greater Brecon |
| Parish | Black Mountains Ministry Area |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | St Bilo's Church |
| Designated | 17 January 1963 |
| Reference no. | 6742 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Lychgate at the Church of St Bilo |
| Designated | 17 January 1963 |
| Reference no. | 6743 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Sundial in the churchyard of St Bilo |
| Designated | 17 January 1963 |
| Reference no. | 6744 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Old Rectory at Llanfilo |
| Designated | 31 March 2005 |
| Reference no. | 84329 |
History
editThe present Church of St Bilo dates from the 12-15th centuries.[1] The Church in Wales Historic Record for the building notes the tradition that the building is of Norman origin.[2] Cadw suggests that two small lintels may be of this date, or earlier.[3] The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust survey undertaken in 1996 did not find built evidence for such an early date.[1] The tower was completely rebuilt in 1882.[a][5][2] It was sensitively restored in the early 20th century by W. D. Caröe.[1] A further renovation by the Caröe architectural practice took place in took place in 1992.[2]
The church remains an active parish church in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon and occasional services are held.[6]
Architecture and description
editSt Bilo's has been described as "rivalling Patrishow and Llanelieu in it beauty, peace and holiness".[5] It consists of a nave, chancel, West tower, and South porch.[1] The church holds a notable 16th-century rood screen and loft, and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales records the "splendid ribbed barrel roof".[5] Robert Scourfield and Richard Haslam, in their Powys volume in the Buildings of Wales series, note the substantial collection of wall-mounted 18th century memorial stones.[4]
St Bilo's is as a Grade I listed building.[3] Its lychgate, one of the oldest in Wales and dating from around 1700, a sundial in the churchyard and the former rectory, are all listed at Grade II.[7][8][9]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Brecknockshire Churches Survey: Church of St Bilo, Llanfilo". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Church Heritage Record 57056: St Bilo, Llanfilo". Church in Wales. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ a b Cadw. "Church of St Bilo (Grade I) (6742)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ a b Scourfield & Haslam 2013, pp. 514–516.
- ^ a b c "St Bilo's Church, Llanfilo (217)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Church of St Bilo, Llanfilo". Church in Wales. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Cadw. "Lychgate to Church of St Bilo (Grade II) (6743)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Cadw. "Sundial in churchyard of Church of St Bilo (Grade II) (6744)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Cadw. "Old Rectory, Llanfilo (Grade II) (84329)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
Sources
edit- Scourfield, Robert; Haslam, Richard (2013). Powys: Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire. The Buildings of Wales. New Haven, US and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-18508-9.
External links
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