Church History 'is a Gateway' to Finding Faith
St Illtyd’s Church, Llantwit Major, has been the feature of a film exploring the history of the church but vicar of the parish, Rev’d Edwin Counsell is keen to discuss the historical facts of the building in context of God’s presence in people’s lives.
Fr Edwin said, “If anybody comes looking for the history, I hope they take away something more than that. History gives context and it tells us why we are the way we are. It also allows us to find the traditions that go right back, and I think that shines a light on what we're doing now and what we can hand over to those who come after us so they can be lit in a much more vibrant light of God's love.”
The film is a 30minute tour around the building where presenter and director Richard Keen interviews Fr Edwin and former Archdeacon of Margam Philip Morris about the parish church’s history, Saint Illtyd himself and the people who have lived and worked in the community.
Fr Edwin said, “If the film does anything, I hope it highlights that the entrance door to the church less of a barrier and more of a gateway. People come with a hundred different reasons. They might come just to sit quietly, they might come and light a candle. It doesn't actually matter whether you're here on Sunday or on Tuesday afternoon for five minutes, you are part of the story of that place and part of the community and the family of Christ here, wherever you happen to be on your spiritual journey.”
The church dates back to the 11th century and the stone archway is part of that original building which is explored in the video. (See 13:30)
“The door is interesting because the doorway is the oldest bit of the church. You look at those features and you reach out and you touch them and think ‘Wow, somebody put their every bit of their efforts into that.’ I think history is less about the stuff and more about the people.”
The chapel of the church is home to a Celtic cross and two pillars which echo the time of Saint Illtyd who lived 480AD – 540AD. (See 15:50)
“Having a church with such a long timeline can mean you start to make up the bits you don't know about and I think that's a real danger. The chance to reflect on tradition that goes back 15 centuries, actually speaks into what we do now like our work with mental health partnerships with the Samaritans. It’s lived out in the everyday of people's lives and then it starts to shape how we invite God into the situation; the kingdom of God being built in the here and now growing in the here and now in people's lives.
“I'm always wary of using the word traditions because I think each generation if it’s true to itself makes its own traditions. It's allowing us to bear witness to what's gone before but have a sense of people encountering God in the present moment.”
St Illtyd’s is often visited by people interested in history, but Fr Edwin said he has recently seen a shift in the direction conversations seem to take.
“I think the pandemic has been important. Where people used to ask ‘how old is the building?’ (which is the cover all that isn't mentioned), many people go beyond that now. Actually, what we're seeing now is responding to a spiritual gene within themselves and asking some really big questions.”