Friends of Friendless Churches
@friendlesschurches.bsky.social
We are the Friends of Friendless Churches — we rescue, repair & protect historic ‘closed’ places of worship in England & Wales.
Yes, as the other commenter said, the church will be repaired and preserved a historical landmark for future generations. Llandyfrydog, like many of our other churches, is intensely rural. Hence, there is no other community use it can serve, with there being so few people in the village.
November 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Yes, as the other commenter said, the church will be repaired and preserved a historical landmark for future generations. Llandyfrydog, like many of our other churches, is intensely rural. Hence, there is no other community use it can serve, with there being so few people in the village.
Oh no! An operational hazard of church crawling. Thankfully that didn’t happen here at Llandyfrydog on camera!!
November 30, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Oh no! An operational hazard of church crawling. Thankfully that didn’t happen here at Llandyfrydog on camera!!
These repairs to the tower of Old St Matthew’s, Lightcliffe would never happen without the continued support of our members, donors, and supporters.
To learn more about how you can support our work, please follow this link friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/support-the-...
To learn more about how you can support our work, please follow this link friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/support-the-...
Support us
You can support us by joining, making a donation, volunteering at one of our churches, organising a fundraising event, or leaving a legacy.
friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
These repairs to the tower of Old St Matthew’s, Lightcliffe would never happen without the continued support of our members, donors, and supporters.
To learn more about how you can support our work, please follow this link friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/support-the-...
To learn more about how you can support our work, please follow this link friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/support-the-...
Now, 50 years later, we are carrying out vital repairs to this splendid tower in West Yorkshire. In particular, these repairs are focused on stabilising the dome and supporting lantern on top of the tower.
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Now, 50 years later, we are carrying out vital repairs to this splendid tower in West Yorkshire. In particular, these repairs are focused on stabilising the dome and supporting lantern on top of the tower.
Ivor and the FoFC fought tooth and nail. However, sadly, the Bishop wouldn’t back down. Instead, a comprise was reached, with the main body of the church being demolished and the FoFC looking after the fine church tower.
📷 Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe during demolition
📷 Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe during demolition
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Ivor and the FoFC fought tooth and nail. However, sadly, the Bishop wouldn’t back down. Instead, a comprise was reached, with the main body of the church being demolished and the FoFC looking after the fine church tower.
📷 Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe during demolition
📷 Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe during demolition
At the same time, in the North of England, the magnificent Georgian church at Lightcliffe also stood forlorn. Serious decay had overcome this elegant 18th century structure and the Bishop of Wakefield was set upon demolishing it.
📷 Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe before demolition
📷 Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe before demolition
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
At the same time, in the North of England, the magnificent Georgian church at Lightcliffe also stood forlorn. Serious decay had overcome this elegant 18th century structure and the Bishop of Wakefield was set upon demolishing it.
📷 Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe before demolition
📷 Old St Matthew's, Lightcliffe before demolition
By the time that it was made officially redundant in 1972, this charming little chapel was truly on the point of dereliction. Thankfully, in 1974, Tuxlith Chapel came into our care and £5,000 was spent to repair to building, making the structure water and wind tight.
📷 The chapel in 1973
📷 The chapel in 1973
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
By the time that it was made officially redundant in 1972, this charming little chapel was truly on the point of dereliction. Thankfully, in 1974, Tuxlith Chapel came into our care and £5,000 was spent to repair to building, making the structure water and wind tight.
📷 The chapel in 1973
📷 The chapel in 1973
Since the construction of a grand Gothic revival church for the growing parish of Milland in the late 19th century, the Tuxlith Chapel had become effectively redundant, used a Sunday school until the 1930s.
📷 The interior of chapel in 1970s
📷 The interior of chapel in 1970s
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Since the construction of a grand Gothic revival church for the growing parish of Milland in the late 19th century, the Tuxlith Chapel had become effectively redundant, used a Sunday school until the 1930s.
📷 The interior of chapel in 1970s
📷 The interior of chapel in 1970s
One of the first churches that Ivor saved and vested in the care of the FoFC was the medieval Tuxlith Chapel, Milland in West Sussex.
📷 The chapel in 1973
📷 The chapel in 1973
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
One of the first churches that Ivor saved and vested in the care of the FoFC was the medieval Tuxlith Chapel, Milland in West Sussex.
📷 The chapel in 1973
📷 The chapel in 1973
If you wish to read more about St Tyfrydog's and watch a video of our Director, Rachel Morley, exploring the church in greater depth, then please follow this link: friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/news/our-new...
November 29, 2025 at 10:57 AM
If you wish to read more about St Tyfrydog's and watch a video of our Director, Rachel Morley, exploring the church in greater depth, then please follow this link: friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/news/our-new...
Since 1999, St Ellyw's, Llanelieu has been in our care. This small church is noted for its breathtaking 14th century rood screen and loft.
📷 Interior of St Ellyw's, Llanelieu, Powys
📷 Interior of St Ellyw's, Llanelieu, Powys
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Since 1999, St Ellyw's, Llanelieu has been in our care. This small church is noted for its breathtaking 14th century rood screen and loft.
📷 Interior of St Ellyw's, Llanelieu, Powys
📷 Interior of St Ellyw's, Llanelieu, Powys
Meanwhile, the Church of England proclaimed that it was divine punishment for the sins of the nation, with the storm famously claiming the life of the Bishop of Wells - a chimney stack collapsed on him while a sleep in his palace.
📷 Altar at St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
📷 Altar at St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Meanwhile, the Church of England proclaimed that it was divine punishment for the sins of the nation, with the storm famously claiming the life of the Bishop of Wells - a chimney stack collapsed on him while a sleep in his palace.
📷 Altar at St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
📷 Altar at St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
The destruction caused by the storm was recorded by Daniel Defoe. He thought that it was divine punishment for Britain’s poor performance against Catholic France and Spain during War of Spanish Succession.
📷 Royal Arms inside St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
📷 Royal Arms inside St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
The destruction caused by the storm was recorded by Daniel Defoe. He thought that it was divine punishment for Britain’s poor performance against Catholic France and Spain during War of Spanish Succession.
📷 Royal Arms inside St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
📷 Royal Arms inside St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
The “Great Storm of 1703” caused extensive destruction across Britain: ships sank, chimneys collapsed, ancient oaks fell, and roofs were down off.
📷 Bellcote of St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
📷 Bellcote of St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
November 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
The “Great Storm of 1703” caused extensive destruction across Britain: ships sank, chimneys collapsed, ancient oaks fell, and roofs were down off.
📷 Bellcote of St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
📷 Bellcote of St Ellyw's, Llanelieu
This incident wasn’t an act of magic, it was the result of the sheer force of nature as a category 2 hurricane tore its way across Britain on the 26th November 1703.
📷 St Ellyw's, Llanelieu, Powys
📷 St Ellyw's, Llanelieu, Powys
November 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM
This incident wasn’t an act of magic, it was the result of the sheer force of nature as a category 2 hurricane tore its way across Britain on the 26th November 1703.
📷 St Ellyw's, Llanelieu, Powys
📷 St Ellyw's, Llanelieu, Powys
This window is the work of Alexander Gibbs, who collaborated with William Butterfield on many mid-19th century churches, including the fabulous All Saints, Margaret Street in London.
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This window is the work of Alexander Gibbs, who collaborated with William Butterfield on many mid-19th century churches, including the fabulous All Saints, Margaret Street in London.
The stunning floral stained glass window on the south side of the nave was installed ‘In affectionate memory of James & Susanna King by their surviving children - June 24th, 1863’. A tenant farmer of Downing College, Cambridge, James King farmed land in the neighbouring parish of Croydon.
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The stunning floral stained glass window on the south side of the nave was installed ‘In affectionate memory of James & Susanna King by their surviving children - June 24th, 1863’. A tenant farmer of Downing College, Cambridge, James King farmed land in the neighbouring parish of Croydon.
If you’d like to read more, then please follow this link to our website: friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/news/an-absu...
An Absurd Situation
Comparing VAT on demolition and repairs reveals a startling, undeniable truth about the UK Government's values
friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk
November 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
If you’d like to read more, then please follow this link to our website: friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/news/an-absu...
Of course, there are qualifications to that - what you do with the land after demolition, and the total cost of the repairs - but to me, this clearly sets the tone for what this Government values.
Infographic in video sourced from Historic England website.
📷 St James's, Llangua, Monmouthshire
Infographic in video sourced from Historic England website.
📷 St James's, Llangua, Monmouthshire
November 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Of course, there are qualifications to that - what you do with the land after demolition, and the total cost of the repairs - but to me, this clearly sets the tone for what this Government values.
Infographic in video sourced from Historic England website.
📷 St James's, Llangua, Monmouthshire
Infographic in video sourced from Historic England website.
📷 St James's, Llangua, Monmouthshire
If you would like to read more about the working party and the traditional conservation techniques used to repair St Michael’s, Castlemartin, then please follow this link to a blog on our website: friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/news/castlem...
Castlemartin Working Party - September 2025
In September, we hosted our first-ever working party at St Michael's, Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, showcasing what skills are needed to repair a historic church. The working party pre-empted 20 weeks…
friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
If you would like to read more about the working party and the traditional conservation techniques used to repair St Michael’s, Castlemartin, then please follow this link to a blog on our website: friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/news/castlem...
To hear more from our volunteers about their highlights of the working party, please follow this link to a short YouTube video: youtu.be/8Vk1pviks2U?...
Castlemartin Working Party - September 2025
In September 2025, we held our first working party at the wonderful medieval church of St Michael's, Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire. In this short video, the participants reflect on their experience of…
youtu.be
November 19, 2025 at 1:03 PM
To hear more from our volunteers about their highlights of the working party, please follow this link to a short YouTube video: youtu.be/8Vk1pviks2U?...