Thanks to everyone who has returned the questionnaire and has offered support to the project – more than 40 people want to be involved. This newsletter gives an update on progress.

We are sorry that the community meeting planned for 18 March was postponed to avoid the risk of spreading Covid-19 and apologise to anyone who did not get the message that the meeting was off.

However, we are still working on the project. Here is a summary of what we are doing:

The Church in Wales who own the site have given the Trust longer (in the light of Covid-19) to come up with a viable plan for St. Teilo’s. During this period, the church will not be offered for sale.

An on-going analysis of responses to the questionnaire and discussions with interested people is feeding in to how we plan the way forward. We want as many responses as possible, so please encourage neighbours and friends and people who may have links to Llanarth but now live elsewhere, to respond to the these questions

1. List any family members you have buried in the churchyard ……………….

2. Do you want the church restored to the community? ………………………..

3. How should it be used in future?………………………………………………………..

PM Consultants Ltd. have produced a Topographical Survey of the whole site which accurately plots the position of every grave, monument and tree as a base to plan to manage the ecology and future use of the churchyard.

Trust members are looking at options for a sustainable energy supply.

A local history researcher has contributed material about the history and heritage of the Church, Llanarth Court and village to add to work by Eric Evans, illustrator and Trust member.

McNeilage Stone Conservators have looked at what is needed to conserve the memorials in St. Teilo’s and given an estimate of cost, which we will include in grant applications.

Morgan & Horowskyj, architects, are drawing up a schedule of essential repairs to the roof and masonry of the church.

A Project Viability Study funded by the Trust and the Architectural Heritage Fund is looking at options for a viable future for St. Teilo’s Church – more on options below.

Options

The majority of questionnaire responses favour restoring the church so that it has 3 main functions and does not compete with Llanarth Village Hall:

1. A large space for church services, funerals, weddings, Christenings; concerts and exhibitions.

2. A flexible area for a community hub which could be developed as a cafe / shop and meeting place for classes, small events, outreach from charitable groups, statutory bodies and for people to meet up and socialise.

3. Areas that can be used to provide revenue to pay future running costs. This could include office/ storage space for rent, the cafe and a Columbarium chapel where families could lease specially designed niches for discreet and reverential storage of cremated remains.

An all-access loo and small kitchen is needed too.

Consultants are currently working on a plan to meet these criteria that would be appropriate to the Listed building status of the church and preserve its architectural heritage while updating facilities to suit modern community life.

We will send another Newsletter when we have more details.

WE WILL ALSO KEEP IN TOUCH THROUGH THE LOCAL PRESS and YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT ON OUR WEBSITE: www.villagealivetrust.org.uk