St Deinst, Llangarron, Herefordshire


In April 2009, the National Churches Trust awarded a £10,000 Community Grant to St Deinst, Llangarron, Herefordshire

This is the only church in England dedicated to St Deinst, a 6th century Celtic saint and the first Bishop of Bangor. There was a church at Llangarron at least as early as the 11th century. That Saxon church was re-consecrated under William the Conqueror as 'Lan garan' (Lan being the anglicized version of the Welsh 'Llan', meaning church). The interior features a good collection of historic monuments, the earliest dating to the 14th century. The font is among the earliest objects in the church, also dating to the 14th century.

Project: The north aisle was repaired, the old pipe organ at the east end removed, a fully fitted kitchen and lavatory facilities (including disabled) built at the west end with a gallery above, sliding doors placed between the nave and the north aisle with glazing above, secondary glazing added to the north aisle's external windows, underfloor heating, broadband access, AV equipment, solar panels and PV cells.  A new sloping path was dug to a new north porch added to the north aisle's existing doorway, allowing direct disabled access to the Garron Centre. The architect was Donald Insall Associates.

Impact: The project has created a hub where people can engage in a wide range of social and cultural activities. The impact has been immense, reducing isolation for the young, the disabled and the old through access to a diverse programme of events, activities and learning opportunities and services, greater social inclusion and improved general well-being.