There’s a rare chance to see an Arts and Crafts masterpiece on Sunday September 8 as the doors of St Mary’s church, Llanfair Kilgeddin are thrown open to visitors.

Between 11am and 4pm visitors can explore a unique church where the Hymn of Creation is scratched onto the walls in a symphonic series of colourful wall-panels. The panels depict scenes of spinning planets, saints, seasons, sheep, dolphins and children playing. There are even scenes of local Monmouthshire landscape including Abergavenny’s Sugar Loaf, Blorenge and Skirrid Fawr … all artistically arranged!

The masterpiece is the work of Heywood Sumner. The process of scratching the design into wet plaster is known as sgraffiti (derived from the Italian word sgraffiare which means to scratch). Sumner spent three summers working on the church in the late 1880s. It is the only example of sgraffiti in Wales.

The work was undertaken by Rev’d William Coussmaker Lindsay in memory of his wife Rosamond Emily Lindsay, who died at just 45 years old.

In 1982, the church was declared first unsafe, then redundant. After which, the diocese proposed to raze it to the ground! The Friends of Friendless Churches rallied and with the support of locals saved the church from demolition.

The Grade I listed church came into the ownership of the Friends of Friendless Churches in 1989. They continue to care for it with the enduring support of local volunteers.

The event is free to all but donations towards the upkeep of the church are gratefully received. The event is a part of Open Doors festival – an annual festival organised by Cadw.