Llanbedr Church just above Crickhowell has been successful in its grant bid to renovate the roof and make general building repairs updating the church with disabled access and improving the churchgoers’ experience generally.

As part of the Heritage Lottery funded project the church has engaged Lisa Hellier, a well known graphic designer and community textile artist, to produce a series of interpretive panels which will be designed by Lisa and made by the community.

The panels’ purpose is to engage and inform visitors with the colourful stories which surround the church.

During the project the aim is also to build and consolidate connections between the church and the wider community.

Right now Lisa needs to gather as much information as possible to inform the panels.

Having read the titles below, if you have any personal or historical information or images, or perhaps you have a family involvement with any of the topics please email [email protected] or phone 01239 891 333 or 07443 532567.

The panels will depict the following:

• a Parish Map with: main panel - the Parish Race around Cae Cynta Ceffil, which joins all three local parishes of Llanbedr, Crickhowell and Llangenny, by the three vicars; side panel 1 - a memorial to valley children who all died from diphtheria; side panel 2 - the Flying Fortress plane crash just above the village.

• The Brute family’s history and carved monumental angels.

• The Bells – six bells each with a history and the complex rituals of bellringing.

• Mrs Smythe’s village parades!

• Eagle lectern and architecture: when Thomas Augustus Brown Davies fell through the roof in 1897 and survived he bought the golden lectern in thanks to God. This panel will include architectural details throughout the ages from 1060. Was there a pagan holy site here first, suggested by the yew trees? Did the pillars come from Llanthony Abbey?

• The Squint. Was it moved? Where might it have originally been?

• The School Porch - a knitted and stitched sampler alluding to the girls’ school held in the church porch. When was this school?

What did they make? Did they speak Welsh? Does anyone have an old local sampler?

As well as helping to supply any detailed local knowledge, if you have some time on your hands and some skills with sewing or knitting the organisers would love you to be part of the project.

Relaxed drop-in workshops will be running throughout 2016 from Llanbedr Village Hall, starting on Saturday, January 16, 2pm - 8pm.

You can also keep updated at llanbedrchurch.org.uk/ or phone Annabelle Elletson on 01873 811330 or Lisa Hellier on 01239 891 333.