Saturday, 8 December 2018

St Mary Crickadarn



St Mary Crickadarn was the first of the two churches I was visiting along with the chapels that were nearby. This village was only a mile or so away from the Chapel I visited last week in Erwood. Checking in Wikipedia I found no history on the church but on checking Britain Express I found an one so I would urge you to click the link to read their excellent one rather than me borrowing it. I will tell you that the church dates the 13th century and has a Medieval nave and porch.





Above the way to the church through the small side gate.

If you look you look to the left you can see a stone stile taking you over the wall though I wonder if it may have been a step for mounting a horse in the distant past






First view of the church after going through the gate




Going around the North side  for a view of the 16th century tower
Better view of the tower and the staircase that will take you to the top







The and blocked doorway of the same era


















Here we go around to the East end where quite a few old memorials hang on the wall








Above a view up the West end of the tower.

Right the South view of the church







General shot looking across the churchyard to the South East end of St Mary






Going in the Medieval Porch you cannot help but see the holy water stoup and nearbuy the Roll Of Honour








 
This type of memorial is very common to most churches I have visited in Wales, certainly in this area





Above the inside of the church looking down the nave.


Left the altar with a poppy wreath leant against it




Another view of the altar looking to the church banner in the corner














The altar with cross behind on the screen







A simple decoration commemorating Remembrance Sunday

Here we look back along the nave to the back of the church





Above the pulpit with the small organ behind it.

Right looking down from the pulpit to the nave



The organ you saw behind the pulpit















The Roll of Honour you find in the church











Carved in marble with the names of the lost and where the fell. Under hangs a poppy wreath





There are quite a few memorials on the wall






Some are easier to read than others



















But all of them are along both sides of the church





and they date  many hundreds of years
Above a small balcony on the west end of the church that takes you to a loft hatch above it










Couple of the older memorials that date to the 1700's










Hard to make out what this but I read it is a royal coat of arms showing the Hanoverian heraldic symbols it has been framed to preserve it








More memorials from the 1700's

















The Church also has a photographic record of the village that you can see




And some of the church during the Victorian restoration
The font which looks like it also dates back many hundreds of years





The church yard path beside which you can see the South side of the churchyard




Looking around the churchyard you can see som old headstones along with forgotten family vaults




Going around to the North side you will notice a churchyard extension with more recent burial sin it. This row of wooden crosses look like thy mark the graves of the same family




Looking over to the more recent graves







Walking through the Churchyard you can see some interesting memorials















More of the older headstones and memorials






Looking East towards the village





More older headstones you can see atthe East end of the church




These headstones  are of a different design from what I have seen




I will leave you with a last view of the church and the village sign.
Till next time have a pleasent weekend



Saturday, 1 December 2018

Erwood Chapel


Erwood is a little village along the A470 to Builth Wells beside the River Wye, on a side road that runs up hill out of the village you will find Erwood Chapel. I passed it as I was driving off to visit two churches and two more chapels further on in the hills. On the way back I stopped off for some photos of the chapel.





The path leading down to the chapel





Above a closer shot showing the cemetery and chapel

Right a memorial on the wall and a couple of supports for another memorial





Side vie of the chapel




Going around to the hillside and looking down on the chapel










 I don't think I have come across a chapel yet that was open but at least this one had windows you could see through and here you get a good view of the little organ and the ministers gallery where they preach from
























Going around to the oppositee side window you can see the benches and the balcony where people sit






The cemetery on the downward side of the hill




Looking across the cemetery where you will note the headstones are of an age and are covered in lichen




Above under the Yew tree is a bench which over looks the valley and the village below

Left looking back towards the roadside houses



Opposite the entrance to the chapel is this fenced off area




With a memorial stone to  Lady who was born in Erwood back in 1914




Above  view back along the cemetery over the tombs and headstones.

Right a look at the chapel from over the roadside hedge
I will leave you this with this view of the cemetery and chapel 
Until next time have a pleasant weekend