Press Releases

St Teilo's Church was moved to the Museum stone by stone from its home on the flood plain of the River Loughor near Pontarddulais, and will officially open at St Fagans on 14 October 2007 – one of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales's key centenary events.

Therefore, with only eight months remaining, the proceedings will provide an opportunity for participants to admire the building's most recent developments, including the skillful carpentry undertaken to create the rood loft and carved screens, the careful paint work using traditional methods and the insertion of hand-made glass windows.

Visitors will hear the latest about copies of an extremely rare series of colourful wall paintings discovered at the site in Llandeilo Tal-y-bont, which will decorate the interior of the Church. One of the originals found will be on display at Oriel 1, a brand new gallery opening at St Fagans later in the spring.

A new bell, which has been cast especially for St Teilo's Church, will be unveiled during a morning service led by the Rev. John Walters of Pontarddulais. This will be followed by guided tours between 12.00 and 2.00 pm. The afternoon's activities will include a talk by Dr Madeline Gray on St Christopher, craft displays by head carpenter Ray Smith, and painters Clive Litchfield and Jonathan Thomas and a Tudor objects session will held by interpreter Sara Huws in the Church cabin from 3.00 pm.

“For the first time visitors have witnessed the process of re-erecting an historic building,” said Gerallt Nash, Senior Curator, St Fagans: National History Museum. “Many travel from Pontarddulais, the Church's original home every St Teilo's Day to monitor its development. It has been one of our most ambitious ventures after 15 years of dedication from the project team, which has shared the process with interested members of the public. We are looking forward to the official opening in October.” St Teilo's Day at St Fagans is supported by the GC Gibson Charitable Trust, The Headley Trust, The Jane Hodge Foundation, Mr Desmond Perkins & Mrs Audrey Perkins.

For further information, please contact Catrin Mears, Communications Officer tel: (029) 2057 3486 or e-mail Catrin Mears.

Notes to Editors:

Admission to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales celebrates its centenary in 2007. For more details go to our 07 pages.