We do enjoy Philip and Sheila's videos on Fridays and they have treated us to so many trip and pilgrimages. I get lots of feedback either on the blog or in person or email. I am most grateful as well that, a Friday is focused away from my thoughts and is fresh and different for us all. Thank you so much.
I know lots of you are buying Philip's book and we are hoping there will be a parish bookclub on zoom so that we can read it, share with others and have a jolly good discussion. It should be good fun and informative. This week Philip was telling me that Roath parish is doing similarly, so maybe other parishes will get on board with this creative idea.
This Friday Philip is sharing with us the opening of the Galilee Chapel from back in 2013 and Philip quotes the citation in his book, this is possibly something which you may not be aware of. Michael Davies, the architect won the Welsh Architecture Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for this amazing piece of work which we have the benefit of being able to use so creatively under more normal circumstances.
“The Galilee Chapel is the realisation of a dream to restore a ruin which has remained in disrepair for over 400 years, and provide a suitable building to commemorate the cradle of ‘Celtic’ Christianity in Britain. Even this final solution has been years in gestation, but the patient result fulfils the brief superbly and provides the church with desperately needed space, a suitably reverent area in which to display the ancient Celtic stones and added facilities to give the church further space for its congregation and the local community.
“The Chapel provides a new, well lit, calm and dignified stage to exhibit the stones, and also accommodates rest-rooms, a meeting/gallery space, a kitchen and an office. The constraints of the existing structure have been overcome by the architect through both following conservation principles and being innovative where required. The ruined side walls have been framed in stone and glazed extensively, allowing natural light to flood into the space. From the main body of the church this gives the chapel an almost celestial light through the internal glazed doors which draws visitors in.
“Materials such as local stone, lime, natural slates, limewash, natural oak boarding and frameless glazing all give the Chapel a feeling of permanence and quality which allow it to sit well next to the existing church, but not to hide its more contemporary detailing. The jury felt this was a confident solution to a difficult brief. Despite the restrictions imposed by the existing structure, the fact this is consecrated ground, disability access issues and archaeological concerns, the architect has produced a design of quality, and delivered a building which is well-detailed throughout and with no little panache. It shows a high level of maturity and confidence in terms of conservation design.”
I think you will enjoy seeing the changes to this well loved building. I have said previously, I remember coming to Llantwit Major so often as a child and we would always end up at St Illtud's and surveying the ruins and the church. I grew up knowing it was the "oldest university" in the UK and now to be a part of the team here is beyond my thoughts and dreams and I am appreciating more and more of its history and place in British Christianity.
I am sure you will enjoy seeing familiar faces again though some are aging a little!
Thank you Philip and Sheila. Enjoy!