Our Speaker for the November monthly meeting was our own Joe Rielly who is the leader of the Architecture and Design Group. The talk was entitled Redundant Churches – Who Cares. Joe cares deeply, although a humanist, he is concerned that many of the disused Churches are falling into disrepair and will be lost to future generations. The Church was once the hub of every village, in fact, yesterday’s Community Hub a place to meet your neighbours, marry, take your children for baptism and finally where you would be laid to rest in its’ cemetery.
Joe first gave this talk to Narberth U3A and has repeated it no fewer than seven times to include Swansea and it was not difficult to understand why. Joe and is Wife Margaret had visited many redundant Churches in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan. I am sure many of us will remember the explosion at the Texaco Oil Refinery many years ago following which it was deemed the village of Rhoscrowther was an unsafe place in which to live and in consequence the inhabitants relocated leaving the Church of St Decuman, which is Grade 1 listed, being left without a congregation but now in the care of Friends of Friendless Churches, what an apt title.
A most interesting and thought provoking talk which left you feeling you wanted to visit the Churches for yourself, in fact, Joe had prepared an information sheet with directions and post codes he must have known we would be inspired to do so!
Penny Thomas 1st November 2018
LOCATIONS OF THE PEMBROKESHIRE CHURCHES IN THE CARE OF
THE FRIENDS OF FRIENDLESS CHURCHES
Parking at Bayvil, Hodgeston and Manordeifi is very limited. Flimston is not accessible when the firing range at Castlemartin is active. Access is generally possible at weekends and bank holidays. Check this range number before setting out 01646 662367 or search on Google for Castlemartin Firing Range times. The post codes are very approximate. The grid references are Ordinance Survey. The map numbers are Explorer or Landranger
BAYVIL. SA41 3XN o/s ref 101 406 map OL35 Exp or Lan 145
Located off the Newport to Cardigan A487 road. Take the B4582 to Nevern, continue on this road past Nevern church for about 11/4 miles. Look out for the very small sign for Bayvil Farm on the left. Go up the lane to the farm and turn left at a bungalow on the corner.
HODGESTON SA71 5JU o/s ref 029 995 map OL36 Exp or Lan 158
Located on the A4139 that links Pembroke and Tenby
LLANDELOY SA62 6LJ o/s ref 856 266 map OL35 Exp or Lan 145
Located off the A487 Haverfordwest to St Davids road. At Penycwm take the minor roads signposted to Llandeloy.
MANORDEIFI SA43 2QN o/s ref 229 432 map OL35 Exp or Lan 145
Located on the A484 Cardigan to Newcastle Emlyn Road. At Llechryd, coming from Cardigan direction, at the cross roads, turn right over the Teifi- river- bridge by the Castle Malgwyn Hotel. Then Immediately left, up the very narrow lane opposite the Hotel gates, to Manordeifi.
RHOSCROWTHER SA71 5EB o/s ref 904 022 map OL36 Exp or Lan158
Located on the B4320 Pembroke to Angle road. Take the minor road on the right to Roscrowther, pass the refinery and continue down the hill where the church is located in the valley.
FLIMSTON SA71 5EB o/s ref 925 956 map OL36 Exp or Lan 158
Located on the range military road to Stack Rocks, at a T junction on the B4319 Castlemartin to Merrion-Camp road.
Most buildings are normally open during daylight hours.
For further information contact WWW.friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk Telephone 020 7236 3934
Please leave a donation when visiting or join the Friends to support their work in maintaining these churches. Please report any damage or problems you see.
Joe Rielly January 2018