The Clerics Trail

Over the past few weeks I have been struggling to find what to write in the Church Explorer and though at first I was republishing early blogs or at least highlighting them for you to visit it did not seem right. I did manage to write on trust which look after churches and even managed to come up with some new posts on chapels I had not written about in this blog. The last resort will be using the two churches I have to write on yet as I thought they could start things going when this crisis ends.

The other day I was left a message on one of my older blogs. It concerned a person called the Rev Frances Kivert who wrote a book called Kilvert's Diary which I have just started reading on Kindle. The person who left the message said Kivert had visited the church. I found this interesting as I have visited a few churches he had been to and tagged them with The Clerics Trail. I remembered seeing a poster advertising the trail and showing the churches, it gave me an idea for a blog so in this one I will show you the churches from the trail I have visited. I do intend to visit more when I go back to Wales again mind you there are 20 on the list to see. What I will say after reading around 20% is that Kivert was Vicar at Clyro and use to radius out to the various places and churches he visited sometimes walking others going by pony and trap 

 

 

 

 

Google map of the Churches Kilvert visited. I have not included the ones I have come across in Oxfordshire

 

 St Cewydd Aberedw
which is situated along the Wye Valley outside Builth Wells. I have visited it a couple of times as it is not far from where I stay in my Caravan.  The poster above is what you see inside the porch as you go in.The first place mentioned in the book is Clyro so this is a fair way from that place, I could not tell you at the moment if he ministered here or just preached. The church it's self is very nice and has links to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd who was killed in the woods nearby

St David Colva
Was mentioned in the first part I am reading, Kivert walked here from Clryo to get a few songs from a fellow there and they had to be sent by post in the end again I do not know if he did anything other that preach here

St Peters Llanbedr
 Described by Kivert as a Ruin it now looks like a typical country church though a little out of the way on it's own. I seem to remember one Vicar having to pay the local vagrants and people a farthing to attend church and one tramp had to be thrown out for cooking in there

St Teilos Llandeilo Graban

  A church in the hills above the Wye and and even further from the First church mentioned, a long church with a little history. You will find a WWI grave cross in the church a memorial to Second Lieutenant J Willaims Vaughan who  worshipped at the church

St Mary Newchurch 

Built around 1400 and restored in in 1856 there are few features that remain from the early time, it stands not far from the Offas Dyke Path and has a welcome for walkers who come by in that you can have tea and coffee. On my visit a group were eating their lunch in the church. Kivert used to walk here from Clyro to teach though how he worded the paragraph seemed dubious.

 

St Andrews Bredwardine
This was the last church that Kivert was vicar here till his death in 1877 aged 38 he is also buried here. I have not been to visit the church yet but home to do so. In the meantime I suggest you look at the link to the blog written by Codlinsand cream who has been there Those are the only churches I have visited so far but no doubt when I get a chance I will visit more.
Till Next time Have a nice weekend and Stay Safe