Manordeifi Old Church
Encyclopedia
Manordeifi Old Church is a redundant church
in Manordeifi
, Pembrokeshire
, Wales. It has been designated by Cadw
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
. The church stands near the River Teifi
and worshippers were sometimes trapped when the river flooded. They were then ferried home in a coracle
that was kept in the church porch for this purpose. The river no longer floods, and the church is no longer used for regular worship, but the tradition of keeping a coracle in the porch continues. When it was stolen, local people raised money for it to be replaced.
to Llawddog, a Celtic saint. From the evidence of an inscription on the bell, it is believed that it was later dedicated to Saint Lawrence. When the parish
was created in the 12th century, the dedication was changed to Saint David
. The nave
and chancel
of the present church date from the 13th or 14th century, and the porch was added at a "slightly later" date. It was probably altered in the 18th century, and repaired between 1835 and 1844. It was abandoned as a parish church
in 1899. The church was repaired in 1905 and again between 1948 and 1973. It was vested
with the charity
the Friends of Friendless Churches in 2000, who hold a 999-year lease
with effect from 10 August 2000.
roofs. Its plan consists of a nave
and a chancel
, with a large west porch, a north vestry
, and a single bellcote at the west end. The interior is plastered
and whitewash
ed. The floor of the nave is paved with slates and there is a three-sided altar platform in the chancel. The church contains box pew
s, four of them being larger for the use of the more prominent local families; the two easternmost of these are furnished with fireplaces. Elsewhere are open-back benches. The pulpit
is plain and is partly built into one of the pews. The font
is square on a circular shaft and a square base. The font dates from the 13th century, while the bell is from the 15th century. In the church are a number of monuments, one of which commemorates Charles Colby who was killed by a tiger in India in 1852. Another is to the memory of the Welsh poet John Blackwell
who died in 1840 and is buried in the churchyard.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
in Manordeifi
Manordeifi
Manordeifi is a parish and community in the hundred of Kilgerran, in the northeast corner of Pembrokeshire, Wales. The population of the community was 478. Together with the community of Cilgerran, it makes up Cilgerran electoral ward....
, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Wales. It has been designated by Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches is a registered charity active in England and Wales. It campaigns for and rescues redundant historic churches threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. To that end, as of August 2010, it owns 43 former churches or chapels, 23 of which...
. The church stands near the River Teifi
River Teifi
The River Teifi forms the boundary between the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in south-west Wales for most of its 75 mile length, flowing into the sea below the town of Cardigan. The catchment of the river is estimated to be 1,008 square kilometres yielding an average flow at Glan...
and worshippers were sometimes trapped when the river flooded. They were then ferried home in a coracle
Coracle
The coracle is a small, lightweight boat of the sort traditionally used in Wales but also in parts of Western and South Western England, Ireland , and Scotland ; the word is also used of similar boats found in India, Vietnam, Iraq and Tibet...
that was kept in the church porch for this purpose. The river no longer floods, and the church is no longer used for regular worship, but the tradition of keeping a coracle in the porch continues. When it was stolen, local people raised money for it to be replaced.
History
The site is thought to have been occupied by a church since the 6th or 7th century, dedicatedDedication
Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church or other sacred building. It also refers to the inscription of books or other artifacts when these are specifically addressed or presented to a particular person. This practice, which once was used to gain the patronage and support of...
to Llawddog, a Celtic saint. From the evidence of an inscription on the bell, it is believed that it was later dedicated to Saint Lawrence. When the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
was created in the 12th century, the dedication was changed to Saint David
Saint David
Saint David was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is still uncertain, as suggestions range from 462 to...
. The nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
of the present church date from the 13th or 14th century, and the porch was added at a "slightly later" date. It was probably altered in the 18th century, and repaired between 1835 and 1844. It was abandoned as a parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in 1899. The church was repaired in 1905 and again between 1948 and 1973. It was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
with the charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
the Friends of Friendless Churches in 2000, who hold a 999-year lease
Leasehold estate
A leasehold estate is an ownership of a temporary right to land or property in which a lessee or a tenant holds rights of real property by some form of title from a lessor or landlord....
with effect from 10 August 2000.
Architecture
The church is constructed in stone and has slateSlate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
roofs. Its plan consists of a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, with a large west porch, a north vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
, and a single bellcote at the west end. The interior is plastered
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
and whitewash
Whitewash
Whitewash, or calcimine, kalsomine, calsomine, or lime paint is a very low-cost type of paint made from slaked lime and chalk . Various other additives are also used...
ed. The floor of the nave is paved with slates and there is a three-sided altar platform in the chancel. The church contains box pew
Box pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s, four of them being larger for the use of the more prominent local families; the two easternmost of these are furnished with fireplaces. Elsewhere are open-back benches. The pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
is plain and is partly built into one of the pews. The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is square on a circular shaft and a square base. The font dates from the 13th century, while the bell is from the 15th century. In the church are a number of monuments, one of which commemorates Charles Colby who was killed by a tiger in India in 1852. Another is to the memory of the Welsh poet John Blackwell
John Blackwell (Alun)
John Blackwell , who used the bardic name Alun, was a Welsh language poet, born near Mold, Flintshire, in north Wales. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford.-External links:*...
who died in 1840 and is buried in the churchyard.