St. Teilo’s Church in Cardiff, Wales, UK
Shown: Rood screen from the restored St. Teilo’s Church.
Roman Catholic art of the past.
The Archbishop of Canterbury reopened a fully restored medieval church from Pontarddulais near Swansea in Wales. It has been rebuilt, stone by stone in Cardiff as it originally stood in 1520. Story here.
What I find so interesting is the restoration of the 16th century frescoes, which were uncovered during the dismantling of the structure. It is an Anglican church now, yet the frescoes give us insight into the medieval art which decorated the Catholic churches of the time.
What I find most interesting, is how similar the Welsh frescoes are to the retablo art of the Spanish Colonial Southwestern United States. The vibrant colors and somewhat naive figures seem to be strikingly similar. I note this, because outside of Southwestern US culture, as well as collectors of Spanish Colonial art, few Catholics seem to have much appreciation for more primitive Spanish Colonial retablos and santos. Whereas icons from the Eastern Church continue to be a “trend” in popular Catholicism.
Shown: Reredos of “Las Trampas“, New Mexico
Perhaps the iconoclasm of the post-Vatican II Church is responsible for the great interest in Orthodox iconography, I’m not sure. You know, people craving sacred images and decoration in otherwise barren modern churches. Nevertheless it seems that many people have overlooked the wonderful heritage of Roman Catholic iconography which still survives in pristine condition in our own Southwest, namely in the mission churches of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and California.
Shown: Contemporary altar screen by Catherine Robles Shaw, Santera.
Santeros, as the artists are called who continue to paint Spanish Colonial retablos, are alive and well in the US Southwest and elsewhere in our country. The santeros carry on the ancient tradition of painting devotional images for churches and private use. The retablo is often painted on wood, although copper, tin and hide are also used. It is a truly Roman Catholic art form, and as the photos above demonstrate, reveal a continuity with the medieval art of the St. Teilo’s rood screen.
For more information visit the website of New Mexico State University.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Gorgeous, Terry. The grievous destruction done to the Church and church architecture by early Christians, by the protestants and most recently the “Vosko-inspired wreckovationis” inspired by the “Spirit of Vatican II Gang of Thousands” is awesome in its thoroughness.
You should add some Greek and Russian iconostases (also called templons) to complete your article.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I got dibs on the Russian stuff on my blog, Ray.
Terry, when we gonna see some of the retablos you’ve painted?
I post a doodle I’m working on for you later on this work.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
wanted to add… I don’t know if I’ll get use to the use of santos. My abuela has em all over her house. She even has outfits she changes them into.
I used to have horrible nightmares as a kid sleeping over. ;-P
October 16th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Kat - I intend to get a scanner - then I’ll post my stuff. Your abuela really has santos? Cool. I have several real ones too - I just don’t dress them up, I also have a collection of rather old retablos - some from Cuzco. I love them. I also have a few Russian icons from the 19th century - so I do love icons as well.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Terry get a scanner soon … would enjoy seeing your art …
October 16th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Beautiful. I love the colors.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:59 am
horrible creepy things with glass eyes.
She has a few retablos, one painted in thanks giving of her wedding and one for the birth of her 1st son, my dad.
it really is a shame I’ve neglected that aspect of my heritage.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:12 am
Found your website by googling on that Welsh church. Did you watch the video at the BBC site? Someone was singing the Regina Coeli and intimating that nobody had heard it in centures!!! My choir sings it at the end of all our practices. The other thing - Archbishop of Canterbury says in the video that the church is not particularly Catholic or Protestant since it comes from before the Great Divide !!! I’m outraged. The whole idea of having the church in a museum and acting as if it belongs to a defunct religion is really outrageous. I wonder if they are going to have re-enactors?
Sorry for the rant. Seems you guys might understand my dismay. I think the English are post-religion and don’t think anybody really believes any of it anymore.
PS I have a brother in Corrales and his Jewish wife collects Santos.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Hi, just a comment on your article, the church isn’t an Anglican church anymore but a museum building. If National Museum Wales hadn’t moved this church, it would now probably be a pile of rubble.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
The time has come for Roman Catholics to restore the templon or rood screen not as barrier between the people and the clergy, but as a sign of the gates of Heaven. The entrance to the holy of holies.
Even a veil as found in Jacobite,Armenian, and Maronite churches would go a long way in restoring a sense of mystery and beauty to the liturgy. Simply maintaining a closed screen when Mass is not said is, itself, a powerful statement for the worshipper.