St Cynfelyn's Church

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Included as an early attempt in the region at correct Gothic design, possibly designed by Bishop Basil Jones, with contemporary fittings. History: Anglican parish church of medieval origins rebuilt in 1844-6. The small N chapel or transept may be medieval, and there is a C14 font and small remains of a C15 screen behind the reredos. The church was rebuilt possibly to the design of the young Basil Jones of Gwynfryn, later distinguished antiquarian and Bishop of St Davids. Jones was at Oxford and aged 24 in 1846, when the vicar wrote "Our means have been so limited that we did not feel ourselves justified to employ an architect, the original plans having been furnished gratuitously by a member of the Oxford Architecture Society, but the whole has been conducted by a person of the county of much experience, who has won admiration for his work". This was probably John Edward Jones, the builder, who signed the completion certificate. The church cost 545. The Gothic style suggests a design by one familiar with Gothic revival thinking, built by one who was not. The 1854 window by J. H. Powell of Hardman & Co of Birmingham was given by Basil Jones and is of high quality. Churchyard gravestones dating back from C18 including miners and gentry including the father of Bishop Basil Jones, William Tilsley Jones, and the Gilbertsons of Dol Clettwr, another distinguished Anglican family of whom Lewis, first vicar of Llangorwen and vice-principal of Jesus College, Oxford, built the church at Bontgoch (Elerch). The reputed holy well, Ffynnon Gynfelin, is sited on the N side of the churchyard. Exterior: Parish church, local rubble stone with dressings of cut local sandstone and steep slate roof with coped gables and crenellated ridge tiles, alternating in pairs wi

From Cadw under OGL v3.