History of St Teilo's Church

In 550 A.D.the Saxons were plundering the area. Iddon, a local ruler, asked St Teilo, who was in Llanarth, to pray for help. St Teilo stood with a cross on the pre- Christian mound where the church now stands and put the Saxons to flight. Iddon gave the land to St Teilo in return for answering his prayers. Llantilio Crossenny is a corruption of the name ‘Church of St Teilo at Iddon’s Cross’. St Teilo became Bishop of Llandaff and is buried there.

The first church was probably a long low timber building usual in Wales. The oldest thing in the present church is the 12th century Norman font discovered in the churchyard early this century. The tower arches and the two lancet windows in the west wall are 13th century (early English) when the church was rebuilt in stone in the form of a cross,

St Teilo’s is a relatively large church because the mediaeval bishops travelled with a large retinue between their manors and used it as a cathedral. In the 14th century the roof was raised and the north transept was enlarged, to form a Lady Chapel. The head on the right of the altar is thought to represent Edward II (1307-27) having a hairstyle typical of that time. There have been several changes to the chancel wall which has a blocked doorway and a squint for the priest to see the high altar where gifts were laid and where there may have been relics of St Teilo. In the 17th Century the Lady Chapel came to be called the Cil-Llwch chapel after a local manor house.   The Green Man is Celtic pagan and was permitted in churches as a symbol of death and resurrection. Its date is unknown.

In 1708-9 the great timbers in the tower, each made from one tree 60ft. high, supported a ringing chamber with six bells- increased to eight in 1978. The door high up on the wall once led to a rood screen which held a cross and from which the gospel was read. This vanished in the reformation and the pulpit vanished only a few years ago. This unique church has a great many other things to interest the historian who may consult Bradney and the literature in the church.

The Abergavenny - Monmouth Road once came to the church and turned left along the wall towards Hen Cwrt where it joined the present route at the original site of the Hostry Inn. A new road past the vicarage was made in 1459 but the present by-pass is relatively modern. There was a brewery on the old post office site. Llantilio Court or Great House was probably built from the remains of Hen Cwrt around 1459. In 1775 it was described as a fine Georgian house with terraced gardens and occupied the terrace to the north of the church. It was sold to a Mr Jackson in 1873 and demolished in 1930.