Church Heritage Cymru

Church Heritage Cymru 5731

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St Padarn, Cross Gates

Name:

The name or dedication of the church.

St Padarn, Cross Gates
Record Type:

This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.

Parish Church
Church code:

A unique identification number given to every church.

5731
Diocese:

The name of the diocese in which the church is located.

Swansea and Brecon
Archdeaconry:

The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.

Brecon
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.

This is a Grade II* Listed Building
Scheduled Monument?

Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites. 

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.

The church is not in a Conservation Area

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Buildings At Risk Status

On Buildings At Risk Register?

The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales. 

This church is not on the Buildings at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).

Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

St Padarn, Cross Gates interior
Caption:

The name/dedication of the church and its location.

St Padarn, Cross Gates interior
Description:

A brief description of the image

Year / Date:

The date the image was created.

2017
Copyright:

Details of any copyright are displayed here.

Originator:

The name of the person who uploaded the image.

Sylvia Richards

Summary Description

This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More  detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.

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Visiting and Facilities

Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc. 

The church is open for worship.
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Church Website

Church Website:

If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.

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Sources and Further Information

Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).

View information on worship and access at this church on the Church In Wales web site
RCAHMW (2004) Coflein http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/236/details/ [Digital Archive/Document]
http://www.coflein.gov.uk/
CPAT (2016) Historic Environment Record http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?prn=CPAT6466 [Digital Archive/Document]
CPAT (2016) Welsh Historic Churches Survey http://www.cpat.demon.co.uk\projects\longer\churches\radnor\16810.htm [Digital Archive/Document]
http://www.cpat.demon.co.uk/projects/longer/churches/idxall.htm
Paul Baker (2017) Llanbadarn Fawr Church floor plan [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Llanbadarn Fawr Church floor plan
Sylvia Richards (2017) St Padarn, Cross Gates interior [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
St Padarn, Cross Gates interior

This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.

Grid Reference: SO 087 643

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Church address

Address
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
St Padarn Cross Gates LLANDRINDOD WELLS LD1 6RU

Administrative Area

Unitary Authority:

This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.

Powys - Powys

Location and Setting

This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.

Lanbadarn Fawr lies to the A483 road (Builth Wells to Newtown) some 5 km north of Llandindod Wells and 35 km south of Newtown and a little under a kilometre from Crossgates, the junction of the A483 with the A 44 Worcester to Aberystwyth main road.  The church lies on a short spur of rock jutting into the meandering River Ithon.

References

Route Planner  Directions, traffic and maps  AA

Church Plan

Llanbadarn Fawr Church floor plan
Caption:

The name/dedication of the church to which the plan refers.

Llanbadarn Fawr Church floor plan
Description:

A brief description of the plan. eg. who created it and where it came from.

Year / Date:

The date the plan was created.

2017
Copyright:

The details of any copyright are displayed here.

Trevor Hewett
Originator:

The name of the person who inputted the plan.

Paul Baker

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

This is a description of the ground plan of the church.

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Dimensions

If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.

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Description of Archaeology and History

A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.

The church was completely rebuilt in 1878-9 at the sole expense of Misses Severn of Penybont Hall by Stephen W Wiiliams the architect of Rhayader (and Radnorshire County Surveyor), the contractor was John Williams of Knighton save that the encuastic tiles were installed directly by Maw & Co.  The original church was probably medieval in foundation as items of an historic nature have been found incorporated into the structure of the church.

The earliest of these incorporated features is an inscribed centurial stone, built into the porch, probably aquired form the nearby Castell Collen Roman Fort.  The second feature is early to mid C12 doorway.  This is the south doorway in the north wall and has the only one of two Romansque carved tympana (the surface between the lintel and the arch above) in Wales,  the other one is in Penmon Priory on Anglesey).  It has a  single order of nook shafts with cushion capitals.  The left capital has male and female figures (possibly identified as Adam and Eve, the woman having a long pony tail).  There is a carved head between the two figures possibly that of a serpent.  The right had capital depicts a dragon with an interlacing body turning to devour a bird while its head is bitten by what is probably a dog.  The tympanum is supported on corbels on which the left hand one has weathered  chip carved pattern above a row of balls, the right hand corbel has a  male head with a  pencil moustache and goatee beard.  The tympanum does not quite fit the space laterally and is truncated vertically, it depicts a tree sprouting from the head of a cat.  To the right is a lion and lioness with long sinuous tails ending in fleur-de-lys and to the left and unidentifiable quadruped, both of which have their tails through their hind legs that end in trefoils.  To the left of the cat's head is a disc with an 8 pronged star pattern probably representing the sun.   The carving seems similar to that of the Herefordshire School  (especially the lioness being similar to one in Kilpek church in the south west corner of its nave).   The scene has been interpreted as eating from the tree of Spiritual Life and Knowledge. The arch has two orders of zig-zag, the inner one with out-turned zig-zags, the outer one with incised zig-zags and a C19 hood mould.  Here the carving seems similar to that of the Dymock (Glocesershire School)  especially with the pair of engaged columns, the western having twisted serpentine creatures with crested head while the eastern one has small lozenges.  T

The third item is in the porch, set high on the east wall are 2 Norman corbels, probably from a corbel table, comprising a double headed janus and a Sheila-na-gig.

References

Cadw Listings Notice

Buildings of Wales – Powys 2013

Church Quinquennial Inspection Reports

CPAT Radnorshire Churches Survey

A Survey of Ceramic Tiles in the Radnorshire Churches M A V Gill 2005

 

 

Exterior Description

A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.

The church was rebuilt in Early English/Simple gothic style the detail pared to the bone.  It has a  nave  lower chancel and south porch with tower.  Built with snecked rock-faced sandstone (from the Llanfawr stone quarries at Llandrindod Wells).  The dressings to the doorways and windows are Ruabon tiles.  The roofs are in welsh slate with grey terracotta toothed ridge tiles with various types of cross finials.  There are three lancet windows at east and west ends, individual elsewhere.  One window - the most westerly on the south wall - is round headed being an imitation of what was there prior to restoration.  The porch has large two-centred arched doorway with complex moulding.  The belfry windows are more ornamented and the tower has an attached stair turret protruding from the west side.  This is under  a steeply angled swept pyramidal stone roof capped by a weather vane and with paired bell openings with louvres.  Below the tower roof is a freestone cornice incorporating a billet frieze

References

Cadw Listings Notice

Buildings of Wales – Powys 2013

Buildings of Wales – Glamorgan 2001

Church Quinquennial Inspection Reports

CPAT Radnorshire Churches Survey

 

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.

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Building Fabric and Features

Information about any important features and building fabric.

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Building Materials

If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.

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Interior Image

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Interior Description

This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.

The church is entered through a Victorian tiled porch incorporating earlier stonework under  a roof of flat ribbed panels.  The internal walls of the nave are of pink Grinshill sandstone, a hardwearing stone from Shropshire more usually to be found in the Montgomeryshire Churches.  The nave roof is in 7 bays with cusped trefoils above collar and arch braces set on corbels and two tiers of windbraceses. It is nicely based on the local medieval church roofs.  A recessed Caernarvon arch (an arch consisting  of a horizontal lintel supported at each end by corbels that project into the aperture) gves access to the tower while there is a large two centred chancel arch with a hoodmoulding finished in head-stops. A single step leads into the chancel and  a further step into the sanctuary.  There is a wagon roof above of 50 ribbed panels with bare walls and deeply splayed window embrasures.  The encustic floor tiles are by Maw & Co of Jackfiled Shropshire.

In the sanctuary is an oak altar table with a moulded oak communion rail on painted decorative scrolled iron brackets.  Within the nave is an oak octagonal pulpit on stone base, an ornate oak lectern and a mediaeval octagonal font with wooden cover (1677) and inscribed 'IDV1607' reset on new base, and an octagonal font of 1879 designed by S W Williams with a shaped bowl and stem.  Hanging from a cast iron frame on timber bearers with are 5 bells from the Mears & Stainbank Whitechapel Foundry in a frame dated 1912 for full circle ringing and sixth bell dated 1789, recast 1879 and re hung in 1999 'Svc by ? T C Lewis', there is one Blank bell c1600 and one by one by Brassfounder.  The organ was built by Hardy and Son Stockport 1905.

References

Cadw Listings Notice

Buildings of Wales – Powys 2013

Church Quinquennial Inspection Reports

CPAT Radnorshire Churches Survey

A Survey of Ceramic Tiles in the Radnorshire Churches M A V Gill 2005

Welsh Stone Forum National Museum of Wales

 

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings. 

Work in progress - can you help?

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.

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Ecology

A description of the ecology of the churchyard.

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Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

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Burial and War Grave Information

Records whether the church has been consecrated.

The church/building is consecrated.

Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.

The churchyard has been used for burial.

Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.

The churchyard is used for burial.

Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.

The churchyard has war graves.

National Heritage Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Parish Church

Churchyard Structures

Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.

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Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Moderate
Setting Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.

A noticeable feature on the main road north out of Llandrindod Wells as the traveler arrives in the next willage
Fabric Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

High
Fabric Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.

A C19 rural parish church of national architectural interest
Interior Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Moderate
Interior Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.

Interestingly retained medieval features kept at rebuilding
Community Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Low
Community Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community. 

A village church outside the area of the built up village

Church Renewables

Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.

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Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Parish Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

"Seek Advice" Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Parish Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Parish Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Parish Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Parish Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Parish Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Asset AddressWed 10 Apr 2024 13:21:25
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionMon 03 Jul 2023 10:32:01
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionMon 03 Jul 2023 10:30:57
Paul BakerAdded image of the exterior of the buildingWed 06 Dec 2017 09:26:06
Paul BakerAdded a plan of the buildingFri 09 Jun 2017 10:32:15
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionThu 06 Apr 2017 15:20:19
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionThu 06 Apr 2017 15:18:58
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionThu 06 Apr 2017 15:17:54
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Location and Setting DescriptionThu 06 Apr 2017 15:15:18
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Approximate DateThu 06 Apr 2017 15:11:50
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