St Cynwyd's Church

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Included at Grade II* for the surviving medieval work, the high quality of the C19 restoration and for its notable setting at the centre of the village conservation area, with associations with the romantic story of the Maid of Cefn-ydfa. History: The church and village is probably of early origin, reputedly of the C6, St Cynwyd Cynwydion being a little known saint of the congregation of Cattwg, son of Cynfelyn ap Garthwys. The present building of the C14 incorporates fragments in the porch of the previous building of the C13, and was itself extensively restored by G E Halliday of Cardiff in 1891-3, the cost of 3,000 being funded by Miss Olive Talbot of Margam Castle. The restoration removed the curious bridge gallery in the nave. An inscription formerly recorded on the chancel wall plate denotes an earlier restoration of 1688, when 3 windows were put in the S wall and the roof replaced. Exterior: Built of coursed Pennant sandstone, with some limestone and igneous rock intrusions, and with a slate roof. It consists of a nave with W tower, a S porch of 1893, and a C14 chancel, largely rebuilt in the C19. The tower has a pilaster stair in the SE corner, and the nave has a widening for the former rood stair on the N side. Single C14 trefoil-headed lights to the chancel, reset or the walling refaced, but twin ogee-headed window lights on the S side of the sanctuary. An stone panel, inscribed to Dafydd Richard is set in the S wall and a weathered stone head is set above the filleted roll moulded C14 priest s door. Two-light C19 window on the N side and 3-light E window. The nave has two ogee headed windows on the N, but large C19 2 and 3-light cusped windows on the S with labels and carved mask dropped terminals. Two C19 cinquefoil lancets W of the po

From Cadw under OGL v3.