Saturday 26 January 2019

St Afan Llanfechan



I noticed this church a while ago when were were driving past, you could easily miss it as the church sits back isolated off the main road beside the old road that used to run past it. The only dwelling nearby is a farm. Surprisingly I found some history on Wikipedia
" The present church dates to a refurbishment in 1866. The church is of typical medieval size and plan and this probably reflects the footprint of its predecessor. The 14th century font inside the church presumably comes from this earlier building. The church stands on an unnatural mound, assumed to be the debris of the earlier church, and within a raised churchyard about 45m across.
It was probably attached originally to the church at Llanafan Fawr ('Llanafan the Greater'), records of both churches during the 18th and 19th centuries show that curates from Llanafan Fawr also served Llanfechan. It was attached to the church at Llanganten by the early 20th century.
St Afan was a 5th or 6th century Welsh bishop, who was usually known as Afan Buallt, indicating a connection with the Buallt area. It is not known where or when he was a bishop, but the name by which he was referred suggests his diocese was around Builth in Brycheiniog with his seat at Llanafan Fawr."





This is the view of the church from over the wall.
Going through the gate leads you to see a closer view






Walking around to the West end and the single bell then towards the North side





Finally around to the East end then South side

Where you come to the entrance porch







Inside you find a single cell church with a step up leading to the altar















on which you find a single candle with a lot of bad droppings around it and try as I might I could not see any above me, mind you it was dark looking up.
Tuning around you get a good view of the choir stalls and nave





There is a single organ that looks well used




and a nice jug containing plastic flowers on it





































Above the font with cover and the pulpit. you get a nice view of the altar from it













And another of the nave, before leaving we turn around and get a good view from the doorway















Outside wandering around you find a lot of old interesting headstones





































Above a couple of fenced monuments one almost hidden under a yew.


Chest tombs





Old headstones







Stone tombs seem to be more common in this churchyard





Some of the graves have both head & footstones




and some headstones look more recent than others
This cross must have become unsafe and has been lent over onto it's base

A more modern headstone with a showjumping engraving on the top, not seen one like this before

The East end of the churchyard and the older graves

I will leave you this week with a view from the South West across the more modern headstones.
Wishing you all a peaceful weekend till next time


7 comments:

  1. The simplicity of the interior feels quite peaceful.

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  2. I like the showjumping headstone, that must be very meaningful to the family. The church is handsome inside and out.

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  3. It's a sweet wee church Bill, a big bit of a mystery though. It looks like it is still in use but the plastic flowers and mouse droppings don't seem to match most well used little English churches?

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  4. ...I like the relatively simple interior of this church. You can see that the walls are so thick, very nice.

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  5. It looks a solidly-built little church with some nice woodwork inside. I like the black granite headstone with the horse and rider etched on it. Wishing you a peaceful week also, Bill.

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  6. Such a sense of peace fills that sanctuary. A bell in the steeple? Does it still ring?

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  7. So substantial! I don't think I would have stayed in there long with rodent evidence!

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