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Final service for medieval church | Final service for medieval church |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Worshippers at a 13th Century rural church are preparing to gather outside it for its final service. | Worshippers at a 13th Century rural church are preparing to gather outside it for its final service. |
The small congregation at St Elidyrs in the parish of Crunwere in Pembrokeshire will say goodbye on Sunday to a building deemed unsafe two years ago. | The small congregation at St Elidyrs in the parish of Crunwere in Pembrokeshire will say goodbye on Sunday to a building deemed unsafe two years ago. |
Since then they have not been let in the church, which is at the end of a single lane track and across a field. | |
Instead they will take their own stools or chairs for the short outdoor service overlooking the village of Llanteg. | Instead they will take their own stools or chairs for the short outdoor service overlooking the village of Llanteg. |
The church has been surrounded by orange tape and signs warning people not to enter since it was declared structurally unsafe in the summer of 2007. | The church has been surrounded by orange tape and signs warning people not to enter since it was declared structurally unsafe in the summer of 2007. |
The graveyard and its grounds have and will remain open for burials and visits by relatives. | The graveyard and its grounds have and will remain open for burials and visits by relatives. |
Although the congregation decided to carry on meeting in Llanteg Village Hall for a while, they have now dispersed and attend other churches in the area. | Although the congregation decided to carry on meeting in Llanteg Village Hall for a while, they have now dispersed and attend other churches in the area. |
The church is at the end of a narrow track and across a farmer's field | The church is at the end of a narrow track and across a farmer's field |
St Elidyrs has finally been declared redundant and will be officially closed. | St Elidyrs has finally been declared redundant and will be officially closed. |
The parish priest, the Reverend Sarah Geach, said: "It's mainly because the tower is in such a bad state of repair - the tower is leaning quite badly. | The parish priest, the Reverend Sarah Geach, said: "It's mainly because the tower is in such a bad state of repair - the tower is leaning quite badly. |
"The churchyard is still open, and there is still a huge amount of burial space. | "The churchyard is still open, and there is still a huge amount of burial space. |
"People will still be able to go up there, just not inside the building." | "People will still be able to go up there, just not inside the building." |
Although the numbers attending the church were sometimes in single figures before it closed, Ms Geach is hoping for a good weather and a healthy turnout for the service. | Although the numbers attending the church were sometimes in single figures before it closed, Ms Geach is hoping for a good weather and a healthy turnout for the service. |
"It is not going to be long but it's very important for the community, and particularly for the congregation, to have a final service. | "It is not going to be long but it's very important for the community, and particularly for the congregation, to have a final service. |
"Many of the parish have got family links that go back generations. | "Many of the parish have got family links that go back generations. |
"It is a chance to say goodbye to the church in the right sort of way." | "It is a chance to say goodbye to the church in the right sort of way." |
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