Roger Mears Architects

Rescuing a Grade II* listed Mideaval Church

This 14^th-century Grade II* listed church is situated at the west end of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It is particularly unusual with its twin aisles and oak ribbed barrel vaults. The roof was in such parlous condition that the Parish Church Council had been advised to take it all down and start again. The PCC wanted to rescue, not destroy, this historic church and the original roof was crucial to the feel and identity of the building. The first stage of work involved repairing the serious structural defects caused by a leaking lead gutter and re-slating the inner roof slopes. Repointing of the external walls was carried out by young people taking part in the Manpower Service Commission Youth Programme. Subsequent stages have involved stabilising the tower, rehanging the bell and repairing all the windows.

‘The 1987 restoration would have been a disaster without you; at one point the foreman was saying it would be best and much easier and cheaper to take off the whole roof completely. The result of thereby losing the barrel ceiling would have been the death knell of the building as a viable Church under the present difficulties of the Church in Wales. So, thank you for all your help.’ Churchwarden.

 

• Category
  Church, Conservation, Listed Building, Medieval