A Medieval church has been given more than half-a-million pounds to preserve the Seven Deadly Sins.
St Cadoc’s Church in Llancarfan, will use the £541,900 grant from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to restore stunning 500-year-old wall paintings rediscovered during repair work.
The paintings revealed so far include possibly the largest and best preserved image in the UK of “St George and the Dragon” and four depictions of the Seven Deadly Sins – lust, sloth, pride and avarice – which have just come to light.
The grant will safeguard St Cadoc’s nationally important medieval interior and train volunteers to share its heritage with visitors. As well as the paintings, it will enable the church to conserve its carved timber ‘reredos’ canopies and ornate wooden painted screens.
The grant will also fund digital displays and a sequenced narrative using LED lights, to tell the story of the church’s medieval history in a fun and interactive way.
The Parochial Church Council also plans to create educational packs and activities to encourage school groups to get involved in the project. A placement will also be offered for University students in specialist conservation techniques for fine art. Through involving local people in gathering information and research about St. Cadoc’s Church, it is hoped that the project will appeal to the wider community.
The Venerable Peggy Jackson, Priest-in-Charge of Llancarfan, said, “We are privileged to be entrusted with the care of these wall paintings, which appeared so suddenly as treasures in our midst, and also of the reredos, which has yet to reveal its true colours. We are very aware of the responsibility that we carry for completing the work, and of the great confidence placed in us by the HLF, in making this grant, for which we are very grateful. As a community we are also excited by the prospect of what is still to come, and look forward to learning more, and sharing more, with the many visitors who will be finding their way to Llancarfan in the years ahead.
Dan Clayton Jones, announced the award to the PCC as his final public appearance as Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales. He said, “St. Cadoc’s Church’s medieval heritage is hugely important to the story of Christianity in Wales and it is vital that it is properly interpreted and conserved for future generations to explore. This project will help tell the story of this fascinating building in a way that will appeal to young people and visitors alike, while ensuring that the site remains a focal point for the whole community.
“I’m delighted that this project is helping to conclude my time with HLF as it embodies everything I like to see in a project. It is inspiring to see local volunteers so passionate about playing their part in taking our heritage forward and in doing so learning new skills. I look forward to returning to the church as a visitor once the project is complete and seeing the difference the funding has made.”
