The ancient Grade II* listed church at Llanarth near Raglan was closed in 2013 and put up for sale in 2019. Local volunteer run buildings preservation charity THE VILLAGE ALIVE TRUST approached the Church in Wales to save the landmark building for the community. Despite Covid the group has now been able to formulate a plan for the future of the building which would reinstate the bells and create a bell ringing training centre, create a café for visitors to enjoy the church’s heritage, install heating and lighting, WC, lift, and a flexible space for staging exhibitions, choral concerts and small events. The chancel with its stained glass window would be a sanctuary area where relatives of loved ones could rent niches for cremated ashes to be kept… known as a columbarium.

An expression of interest has been submitted to Heritage Lottery Fund for their approval to bid for major funding. The Trust and volunteers are also fundraising to cover costs already incurred for work including architect input and bat survey, feasibility study etc.

But all research and form filling, compiling press releases, newsletters, open days etc is carried out voluntarily by members of The Village Alive Trust which has a record of conserving listed buildings ‘at risk’ in Monmouthshire.

A Coffee Morning and update on the project will be held at Llanarth Village Hall on Saturday May 7th…from 11 am and St Teilo’s will be open from 10-11am that day.

Your support is appreciated and we hope to be able to welcome you to a reopened St Teilo’s church building as part of Calon Llanarth, which aims to conserve this landmark at the ‘heart’ of the community.