“Cathedral of the Vale” receives lottery grant
There can hardly be a parish church that can offer more to a visitor than St Illtud’s Church Llantwit Major. This church, on a site where Christ has been worshipped for over 1,500 years without a break, has a remarkable story, which is not yet finished.
It was originally a Celtic foundation, at a spot on the Ogney Brook where Illtud settled about the year 500. Illtud was one of the Welsh saints who travelled by the western seaways, keeping the Gospel alive after the retreat of the Romans. The school which he founded at Llantwit has been identified as the oldest centre of learning in Britain. From here, its priests set up churches in his name all through South Wales and Brittany.
The Normans came here and built the first stone church, then added to it in the 13th century, a great period of church building in the Vale. Visitors can see a range of medieval and later treasures – a rare 13th century Jesse niche carved in stone, wall paintings of St Christopher and Mary Magdelene, a medieval alter that was once a gravestone, medieval and Elizabethan effigies, and a remarkable reredos, made of stone brought from Portland and the Mendips.
It was no wonder that when John Wesley preached here in 1777 he described St Illtud’s in his journal as the most beautiful church in Wales.
The greatest treasure of the church is its collection of Celtic crosses and stones, mainly from the 9th century. One cross has been described as the finest Celtic carved cross in Glamorgan, while two stones are memorials to local kings.
The stones are kept in a busy, active church, and unfortunately are not currently easily accessible. However this is about to change. The church has received a Heritage Lottery grant to begin development on rebuilding a roofless ruined Galilee Chapel on the west end of St Illtud’s. The plan is to place a modern structure inside and over the existing walls – a 21st century solution to an old problem. The stones and effigies will be moved in as the first stage in establishing an educational centre which will tell the story of Celtic and Welsh Christianity. There will facilities for research and disabled access, with toilets and a tea station in an adjoining sacristy.
Much of the funding is already in place, but before the end of the year there will be a programme of fund raising activities.
