Llangelynin (Welsh for The church of Celynin) is a former parish in the Conwy valley in north Wales. Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic The River Conwy ( Welsh: Afon Conwy) is a River in north Wales. North Wales (Gogledd Cymru is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales, bordered to the south by Mid Wales and to the east by England. Today the name exists only in connection with the church, and the school in the nearby village of Henryd. Henryd is a small Village on the western slopes of the Conwy valley in Conwy county borough, north Wales.
NOTE: This church should not be confused with the ancient church of the same name which lies on the coast between Llwyngwril and Tywyn, near Fairbourne in the neighbouring county of Gwynedd (historically Merionethshire). Tywyn (formerly Towyn) is a Town and Seaside resort on the Cardigan Bay coast of southern Gwynedd (formerly Merioneth: Fairbourne [[Welsh language] name] is a Village on the coast of Barmouth Bay to the south of the Estuary of the River Mawddach in Gwynedd History Gwynedd was an independent kingdom from the end of the Roman period until the 13th Century when it was conquered and subjugated by England Merionethshire (Meirionnydd Sir Feirionnydd is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county
Note that modern usage prefers the spelling "Llangelynnin" (i. e. with a double n).
Llangelynnin Church (Welsh: Eglwys Llangelynnin) is possibly one of the remotest churches in Wales, and is amongst the oldest; that at Llanrhychwyn, further up the valley, is a little older. The church is dedicated to St. Celynin, who lived in the 6th century, and probably established the first religious settlement here. It lies at a height of just over 900' above the village of Henryd in the Conwy valley, in the shelter of Tal y Fan (610m), the hill to the south-west.
A small and simple building, it probably dates from the 12th century (although some sources cite the 13th century), and was probably pre-dated by an earlier church of timber, or wattle and daub construction. Wattle and daub (or wattle-and-daub) is a Building material used for making walls in which a woven lattice of wooden strips called wattle is daubed Llangelynin was also the name of the former parish, and the primary school in nearby Henryd (Ysgol Llangelynnin) still carries the name.
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St. Celynin
Celynin lived in the 6th century, and it is believed that he was one of the sons of Helig ap Glanawg, the prince who lived at Llys Helig before the sea undated the land off the coast of Penmaenmawr. Helig ap Glanawg (standard modern Welsh orthography Helig ap Glannog) was a 6th century prince who lived in North Wales. It is also believed that Celynin was related to Rhun, son of Maelgwn, Prince of Gwynedd, who is known to have ruled in the 6th century, and that he was also a brother to Rhychwyn, the saint associated with Llanrhychwyn church.
Location
Next to the church lie the remains of an ancient hut circle, and some stories romantically suggest that this was where St. Celynin himself lived. The church is overlooked from the north-east by the adjacent crags of Cerrig-y-ddinas, the site of an Iron Age fort. This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. These crags afford wide views down the Conwy valley to the sea, and up the valley as far as Dolgarrog. Dolgarrog is a small Village in the Conwy county borough in North Wales situated between Llanrwst and Conwy, very close to the
Many old paths lie in the area, and these routes would have been established at a time when the hills were considerably more wooded.
An old walled bridleway route leads east from the church, down through Parc Mawr[1], an area of woodland now owned by the Woodland Trust, who are replacing the 1960s-planted conifers with native species. The Woodland Trust, founded in London, England in 1972, and now based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, is a conservation charity in The path through the wood leads towards the valley bottom, and to the west a route leads towards Penmaenmawr, past the Bronze Age standing stones of Maen Penddu. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Standing stones, orthostats, liths or more commonly Megaliths ' because of their large and cumbersome size are solitary stones set vertically in the To the south-west a path meets the important Neolithic and Roman Road route passing through Bwlch-y-Ddeufaen, which connected the Conwy valley to the north coast near Llanfairfechan, and places further westwards. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The Roman Roads were essential for the growth of the Roman Empire, by enabling the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate news Bwlch-y-Ddeufaen ( Welsh: Gap/Pass of the Two Stones) is a mountain pass in Conwy county borough, North Wales, traversable only on foot or Llanfairfechan is a Town in the County borough of Conwy, Wales, lying on the north coast and the A55 road between Penmaenmawr
The church building
The porch was added in the 15th century, and features an unusual "squint window" in its east (right) wall. Repairs to the porch roof were made using yew wood, and therefore it is quite possible that these came from the churchyard, which at one time contained trees. The door hinges and threshold date from the 14th century, although the door itself is more recent.
The nave is the oldest part of the church, dating from the 12th century, and the present chancel was added later, probably in the 14th century. In Romanesque and Gothic Christian Abbey, Cathedral Basilica and church Architecture, the nave is the "Chancel" is an architectural term for the space around the Altar at the Liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building Originally the nave would not have been paved, as it is today, and indeed, the rear of the north chapel remains unpaved even today. The roof contains dark oak rafters.
The north transept was added in the 15th century and was known as Capel Meibion, the "men's chapel". The window at the back of the chapel was a more recent addition.
Opposite the north transept, a south transept was also added, probably in the 16th century. This was called Capel Eirianws (meaning "Plum Orchard", the name of a local farm), whose owner possibly had it built. This chapel was demolished in the 19th century, but some remains are still visible from outside.
The present east window dates from the 15th century, and replaced a smaller 14th century window.
Since demolition of the south chapel (and the gallery) in the 19th century, the church has changed little.
Artifacts
The twisted altar rails and the alter screen date from the 17th century. The removal of a pulpit to the left of the altar revealed inscriptions on the east wall, and further removal of whitewash revealed the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments. A creed is a statement of Belief — usually Religious belief — or Faith often recited as part of a religious service The Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father or Pater noster, is probably the best-known Prayer in Christianity. The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, are a list of religious and moral imperatives that according to Judeo-Christian tradition were authored by God and given These were written in Welsh. The inscription "Fear God and honour the King", together with scrollwork, can clearly be seen today, as can a skull and cross-bones! The Welsh version of the Lord's Prayer, on the sill, is hardly visible, after vandalism.
The remains of the rood screen in front of the more recent lectern date from the 14th century, and would have separated the nave from the chancel. The rood screen (also choir screen or chancel screen) is a common feature in late Medieval parish Church architecture. A lectern (from the Latin lectus, past participle of legere, "to read" is a reading desk with a slanted top usually placed on a stand or affixed to The church once had a rood loft and gallery, and the remains of these can be seen in on the nave walls, and from the beam at the back of the church. The gallery was demolished in the 19th century.
The reader's desk possibly dates from the 16th century, although the door is more recent.
The wooden benches in the nave date from the 18th century, although at least one bench in the church dates from 1629 [2]). One bench (at the front of the north chapel) still bears the initials R. O. B. , this being the Reverend Owen Bulkeley, a former rector, who died in 1737. A church terrier of 1742 records a particular bench which was used by women only.
Just inside the church, on the wall, is a Holy Water stoup, used for making the sign of the Cross. A baptismal font is an article of church Furniture or a Fixture used for the Baptism of children and adults This was used until the 19th century.
At the back of the church is an octagonal font, which probably dates from the 13th or 14th century.
The bell has no inscription and its date is therefore unknown.
On the wall in the nave is a bier, used to carry the dead to the churchyard.
Renovation
Major renovation of the church was carried out in 1932 and in 1987. This later renovation work was carried out under the guidance of Gerald Speechley, and a plaque in the church records this. He died three years later.
The churchyard
The churchyard is walled, with an arched entrance in the eastern wall. Today it is almost devoid of tree growth, but this was not always so.
The churchyard contains a fair number of gravestones, dating back to the 14th century. These graves were not dug in any uniform layout. Indeed, the rock outcrops to such a degree that finding space for graves has been a problem over the centuries.
The Holy Well
In the south-eastern corner of the churchyard is a well - sometimes known as "The Holy Well of St. Celynin", and also by its Welsh name Ffynnon Gelynin - a small walled rectangular pool, which was renowned for its power to cure sick children. One old story relates that parents would throw items of their sick child's clothing into the water. If the clothes floated their child would live. If they sank the child was destined to die of the illness. The well was once roofed over but this no longer exists. The walls round the well, and probably the benches too, were later additions when the churchyard was restored. The presence of water at this elevation was probably the reason for its designation as a site for early settlement, and the well itself almost certainly predates the church.
Outside the churchyard
Outside the churchyard itself, close to the well, are the remains of a round building. A church terrier of 1742 refers to this, and to its use as a stable.
Beyond the south-east corner of the churchyard there was once an old inn. This was demolished in the 19th century.
The "new" church
Llangelynnin church was used regularly until 1840, when it closed following depopulation of the area. A new church was consequently built, carrying the same name, nearer the centres of population. This church is situated close to the 15th century Groes Inn (on the B5106), on the road which runs from the Inn to the village of Rowen. Rowen is a small Village on the western slopes of the Conwy valley in Conwy county borough, north Wales. Whereas the old church reflects a simple Mediaeval design, the new church was designed by Thomas Jones of Chester in a much grander, lofty late Georgian style. Chester is the County town of Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77040 Georgian architecture is the name given in most English -speaking countries to the set of Architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840 Unusually, the tower has a square lower storey surmounted by an octagonal embattled upper stage. The original plans of 1839 still exist [3].
A plaque in the doorway refers to the "re-erection" of the building, implying perhaps that there was an earlier building on this site, but there is no evidence to this effect, and no gravestones pre-date 1839. The Religious Census of 1851 refers to it being erected in "1839 or 1840", but makes no reference to the Old Church.
This "new" church also eventually closed (in the 1980s), but the font from the church is now displayed by the altar in Llangelynnin old church.
Llangelynnin "new" church is now the studio of David Chapman, a sculptor and artist.
Access to the church
Despite its remoteness, the church is well signposted from Henryd, which lies off the B5106 south of Conwy. Henryd is a small Village on the western slopes of the Conwy valley in Conwy county borough, north Wales. Conwy (formerly Conway in English is a Town in Conwy county borough on the north coast of Wales, which faces Deganwy across The single track road is metalled up to the small car park by the church. The church is not named on the Ordnance Survey map, but lies at reference SH751737. Ordnance Survey (OS is an Executive agency of the United Kingdom government
The church is open to visitors at most times. Only occasionally are services held in the church, in the summer and on special occasions.
Llangelynnin - The wider parish
The following extract comes from A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849) by Samuel Lewis :
LLANGELYNIN (LLAN-GELYNIN), a parish, in the union of Conway, hundred of LlêchWedd-Isâv, county of Carnarvon, North Wales, 3 miles (S. by W. ) from Conway; containing 270 inhabitants. This parish, which derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Celynin, who flourished towards the close of the sixth century, is situated at the north-eastern extremity of the county, bordering upon Denbighshire. A memorable battle was fought at Cymryd, in or near the parish, in the year 880, between the forces of Anarawd, Prince of North Wales, and those of Edred, Earl of Mercia, who attempted the conquest of the country. In this conflict Anarawd was completely victorious; he drove the Mercians from the field of battle, and continued to pursue them until they were finally expelled from the principality: the victory was called Dial Rhodri, or "Roderic's revenge," as Anarawd thus fully avenged the slaughter of his father Roderic in a descent of the Saxons upon Anglesey. The village, which is small, is beautifully situated in a fertile vale under the mountain called Tàl-y-Van. The surface of the parish is mountainous, the lands partially inclosed and cultivated, the soil various, and the surrounding scenery marked with features rather of boldness than of beauty. The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £7; patron, the Bishop of Bangor. The incumbent's tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £250, and the glebe comprises five acres: a rent-charge of £5 is paid to the parish-clerk. The church is a small ancient edifice, in a state of considerable dilapidation. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists; a day school in connexion with the Church, and a Sunday school belonging to the Independents. The Rev. Launcelot Bulkeley, in 1718, bequeathed £60, the interest to be paid to four widows, who are appointed at a vestry, and regularly receive the donation.
The following extract is taken from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868), transcribed by Colin Hinson.
"LLANGELYNIN, a parish in the hundred of Isaf, county Carnarvon, 2 miles S. W. of Conway, its post town, and 10 E. of Llandegai. It is situated at the foot of the hill called Pen-maen-fach, and includes the townships of Cae-Gorlan, Cymryd, Glynn, and Pen-Raelt. The Saxons, under Edred, were defeated here by the Britons in 880. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Bangor, value £225, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is dedicated to St. Celynin. There are charities amounting to about £5 per annum. On the hills are several antiquities, including cairns, tumuli, &c. "
See also
References
- The Old Churches of Snowdonia by Harold Hughes & Herbert North, Bangor, 1924
- The Conwy Valley & The Lands of History by K. This is a list of Towns and Villages in Conwy county borough, Wales. Mortimer Hart, Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1987
- Terriers of Llangelynnin Church, held by Gwynedd Archives.
- Langelynnin Church's own information sheet
External links
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