The Church of St Anno in Llananno, Powys, Wales, is a redundant church dating from the 14th century. Its medieval rood screen is considered "one of the great treasures of Welsh craftsmanship". A Grade II* listed building, the church is now in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.
St Anno's Church, Llananno | |
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Church of St Anno, Llananno | |
St Anno's Church, Llananno Location in Powys | |
52°21′35″N 3°19′46″W / 52.3597°N 3.3294°W | |
Location | Llananno, Powys |
Country | Wales |
Denomination | Church in Wales |
History | |
Status | Redundant |
Founded | 14th century |
Dedication | Saint Anno |
Architecture | |
Heritage designation | Grade II* |
Designated | 29 July 2004 |
Architectural type | Church |
Specifications | |
Materials | Stone, slate roof |
The Church of St Anno stands beside the River Ithon on the edge of the village of Llananno. Of medieval origin, it was entirely rebuilt in 1876–1877 by David Walker, a Liverpool-based architect.[2] Walker incorporated elements from the medieval church, including the 15th-century rood screen.[3] Cadw considers the screen as "the most richly decorated and one of the most complete in Wales".[4] Scourfield and Haslam, in their Powys volume of the Buildings of Wales describe the "glorious [screen as] among the best examples of screen-work in Wales”, and the best of the work of the Newton school of Welsh screen-carvers, and draw comparisons with similar screens at Newton itself, at Llanegryn, Gwynedd, and at Daresbury, Cheshire.[1] The screen was restored during the Walker restoration, and again in the 1960s.[4] It comprises ten arches, with a centrally-placed archway, which support a large gallery with two bressummers (beams) above and below a central parapet carved with 25 figures of "Christ, Patriarchs, Kings and Prophets". The figures are 19th-century replacements.[1] The bressummers themselves are carved with images of "fruit and foliage, the stems emerging from the mouths of serpents".[5]
The church itself is small and simple, constructed of grey limestone with a porch and modest bell cote.[3] St Anno's is a Grade II* listed building, its Cadw record noting that the high grading is due to "its exceptional rood screen, an architectural survival of national importance".[4]