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St Matthew's Church, Llandefalle

Coordinates: 52°00′41″N 3°18′06″W / 52.0114°N 3.3017°W / 52.0114; -3.3017
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St Matthew's Church, Llandefalle
St Matthew's Church, Llandefalle is located in Powys
St Matthew's Church, Llandefalle
St Matthew's Church, Llandefalle
Location in Powys
52°00′41″N 3°18′06″W / 52.0114°N 3.3017°W / 52.0114; -3.3017
OS grid referenceSO 107 355
LocationLlandefalle, Felin-fach, Powys
CountryWales
DenominationChurch in Wales
History
Statusactive
DedicationSaint Matthew
Associated peopleReverend A F R Bessant (priest)
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated17 January 1963
Architect(s)W. D. Caröe (attributed restoration)
Architectural typeChurch
Groundbreaking15th century
Administration
DioceseSwansea and Brecon
ArchdeaconryBrecon
DeaneryGreater Brecon
ParishBlack Mountains Ministry Area

St Matthew's Church, is an active parish church in the village of Llandefalle, Felin-fach, Powys, Wales. Dating from the 15th century, the church was restored, probably by W. D. Caröe, in the early 20th century. St Matthew's is designated by Cadw as a Grade I listed building.

History

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The earliest dedication of a church on the site, some 5km to the north of Brecon, was to St Maelog and there is some remaining evidence of 13th century construction.[1] The present church is mainly of the 15th century.[2] The church escaped the heavy restorations generally undertaken in the Victorian era, when the western end of the church was partitioned off and served as the village school.[3] It was sensitively restored in the early 20th century, probably by W. D. Caröe.[a][2] A further renovation took place in 1959.[4]

The church remains an active parish church in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon and occasional services are held.[5]

Architecture and description

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St Matthew's is unusually large for its remote, rural setting and for the small community it serves. Robert Scourfield and Richard Haslam, in their Powys volume in the Buildings of Wales series, note its "lovely, secluded location".[4] The church consists of a nave, chancel, aisles and a western tower.[6]

St Matthew's is as a Grade I listed building.[2] Its lychgate, and the former rectory are listed at Grade II.[7][8]

Notes

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  1. ^ Cadw's listing record states the 20th century restoration was "probably" by W. D. Caröe.[2] Scourfield and Haslam attribute the 1905 restoration to E. V. Collier.[4] The Church in Wales Historic Record mentions internal fittings "in style of W. D. Caroe".[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Brecknockshire Churches Survey: Church of St Matthew, Llandefalle". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Cadw. "Church of St Matthew (Grade I) (6731)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Church Heritage Record 6006: St Matthew, Llandefalle". Church in Wales. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Scourfield & Haslam 2013, p. 505.
  5. ^ "Church of St Matthew, Llandefalle". Church in Wales. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  6. ^ "St Maelog's Church, Llandefalle (153760)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  7. ^ Cadw. "Lychgate to Church of St Matthew (Grade II) (84319)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  8. ^ Cadw. "Old Rectory, Llandefalle (Grade II) (14897)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 4 September 2024.

Sources

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