Lost Chruches of Wales - St. Teilo's Church

This church is one that does not truly support the definition of being lost, as it was and still is standing, although not at its original site. But part of the history of St. Teilo's was lost, only to be rediscovered quite by accident. This rediscovery of murals which date to the time before the Reformation is quite remarkable because most of the churches in Wales that where of the 'old faith', were laid to ruin by Henry VIII's pillage of the Catholic faith during the Reformation. This is the remarkable story of St. Teilo's Church.

Situated near the Loughor River just outside of Pontarddulais in Wales, St Teilo's church was known to most as the 'church in the marsh'. The Welsh, however prefer 'Llandelio Tal-y-bont' or 'the church of St. Teilo at the head of the bridge'. The Welsh name is far more descriptive and nearer the point.

The name signifies the nearness of the church to the first crossing point on the river upstream from the old Roman fort at the mouth of the Loughor rover into the Burry estuary. This crossing served as an invasion route for the Normans and buildings built here were captured by the Welsh in 1215. Today a farmhouse has been buit on the old foundations, an almost replica of the main church building.

The church served as a house of worship though 1852. Annual services were still conducted at the site until 1973, when the church was de-consecrated. Unfortunately in the years after suffered from neglect and vandalism. Graves were disturbed and the church was systematically being dismantled.

It was near this time that surveys were done and medieval wall paintings were uncovered, hidden beneath layers of paint. These wall paintings were found to be of significant historical value, and they and the remains of the church were disassembled and taken to the Welsh National History Museum at St. Fagan's.

Then in 1985 a group of people from the University college of Cardiff's Department of Conservation removed the paintings to be repaired and preserved before being replaced in the re-erected church at the museum. Numerous representations were found in the paintings, including St. Katherine.

The site of St. Teilo's Church shows little of what made up the grounds. The raised churchyard and some foundations are still evident. There appeared to have been extensive work for varying periods over several hundred years.

The church was formed of a rectangular chancel and nave. Later a south aisle, north chapel and porch were added. Reconstruction was also evident, as suggested by a complete refurbishment of the east chancel wall and addition of Gothic style windows. A second story was apparently lost early on.

The church remains a legacy of history marked only by a few walls and a graveyard. Perhaps someday the church will be fully restored at its original site and re-consecrated so that the faithful may not only worship in the present day, but grow to know the wonder of their past.

In late 2007, the Restoration of St Teilo's will be complete. The National History Museum, known locally as the Museum of Welsh life, will open this historic building to the public to enjoy its splendor. The church will have been restored to what it would have looked like in the medieval period and the paintings will once again be on view of the entire world to see. What Henry laid waste to all those years ago, it now back where it belongs, back to the people of Wales!