Plinth to Preaching Cross
We at St. Cattwg's Church Llanmaes have been able this summer to carry out conservation work to the grade 2* listed masonry plinth structure with the help of grant monies from both the Welsh Church Act Fund and the St. Andrew's Conservation Trust in Dorchester.These monies have helped to boost our church restoration fund enabling us to carry out this project which was in danger of collapse. This should now stand in our churchyard for a long time to come.
The plinth is thought to be four hundred years old. We know that John Wesley visited St. Cattwg's on more that one occasion. Given his preference for speaking out of doors the preaching mound would have offered an ideal place to do so. The original cross would have been removed during the Reformation when such crosses were often hidden from zealots in the churchyard by the wardens. Alas we are still to find ours. The current cross had developed structural defects and was removed during these works. It is now hoped in the future to erect a cross replacing the modern cross erected last century,completing this monument.
Kerry Veale
churchwarden
Plinth before work:
And after hard work:
