St Teilo
St Fagans, City of Cardiff
St Teilo's church is believed to have been built during the late 12th or 13th century on the site of an earlier Celtic church, over the ensuing centuries the building was altered and extended.
The church was consecrated in 1934, having been built in just one year, following a large donation by Lord Glan Ely in commemoration of his wife who had recently been killed in a road traffic accident.
Its red brick exterior gives no hint of the beautiful interior, with an octagonal tower which produces exceptional acoustics and is therefore regularly used for classical music concerts by orchestras. It's light and airy interior is resplendent with beautifully carved furniture, an exquisite tiled floor bearing the Glan Ely coat of arms, a huge portrait of Lady Glan Ely, memorials to many of the Glan Ely family in stained glass and also to Lord Glan Ely himself, later killed in a bombing raid.
The church also holds a large collection of the world renowned religious sculptor 'Roper' and is now home to a large permanent display of his work throughout Britain and the start of a 'Roper Trail' which can be followed across the churches of Cardiff, which hold a vast quantity of items made by him. The church also houses within a WW2 memorial for the fallen of Ely.
Our volunteers will happily tell you more over a free cup of tea!
The church does not have a consecrated burial ground, rather it lies in beautiful parkland.
