St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

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St Cynog's Church, Defynnog
Grade I listed Church of St Cynog, Defynnog - geograph.org.uk - 2648252.jpg
The church and the Defynnog Yew
Powys UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog
Location in Powys
51°56′22″N3°33′53″W / 51.9395°N 3.5647°W / 51.9395; -3.5647
OS grid reference SO 925 279
Location Defynnog, Powys
CountryWales
Denomination Church in Wales
History
Statusactive
Dedication Saint Cynog
Associated peopleReverend K Richards (priest)
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated17 January 1963
Architectural type Church
Groundbreaking 15th century
Administration
Diocese Swansea and Brecon
Archdeaconry Brecon
Deanery Greater Brecon
Parish Brecon and Epynt Ministry Area

St Cynog's Church is an active parish church in the village of Defynnog, Powys, Wales. The dedication is to Saint Cynog, one of the 24 children of Brychan, a legendary 5th-century king of Brycheiniog. Dating from the 15th century, with earlier elements, the church was restored in the late 19th century. The churchyard is notable for its collection of ancient yew trees, the Defynnog Yew which is among the oldest in Britain. St Cynog's is designated by Cadw as a Grade I listed building.

Contents

History

The Church of St Cynog stands in a large churchyard, in the centre of the village of Defynnog, just to the south of Sennybridge. [1] The present church dates from the 15th century. [2] Records show at least one earlier church, dating from the 13th century, and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) records built evidence in the form of carved stones dating back to the 5th or 6th centuries. [3] The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust survey undertaken in 1995 expressed doubt that the "Celtic" window in the church is actually a pre-Norman feature. [2] Robert Scourfield and Richard Haslam, in their Powys volume in the Buildings of Wales series, date the tower to c.1500. [4] The Church in Wales Historic Record notes the building's restoration in the late 19th century. [5] Cadw records the cost of the reconstruction at £1,793. [1]

The church remains an active parish church in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon and occasional services are held. [6]

Defynnog Yews

The churchyard contains four ancient yew trees, one of which has been dated at roughly 3,000 years old, making them among the oldest in Britain. [7] Claims have been made for even greater antiquity, but these are contested. [8]

Architecture and description

St Cynog's is built of rubble stone. [lower-alpha 1] It consists of a nave and chancel, a north chapel, a west tower, and south porch. [2] The RCAHMW notes that the Perpendicular style is due in part to later remoulding rather than the original construction. [3] The church contains two carved stones of very early origin; in the porch is a Roman gravestone, incised with the wording, "Rugniatio Livendoni" and the font has an inscription, "Siwurd + Gwlmer" in Runic script in the Lombardic language. [1]

St Cynog's is as a Grade I listed building. [1] The former vicarage is listed at Grade II. [9]

Notes

  1. Scourfield and Haslam, writing in 2013, noted that a coating of cream ochre had been applied to the exterior of the church, "to great effect". [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cadw. "Church of Saint Cynog (Grade I) (6774)". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Brecknockshire Churches Survey: Church of St Cynog, Defynnog". Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust . Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  3. 1 2 "St Cynnog's Church, Defynnog (401782)". Coflein. RCAHMW . Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  4. 1 2 Scourfield & Haslam 2013, pp. 477–478.
  5. "Church Heritage Record 5973: St Cynog, Defynnog". Church in Wales . Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  6. "Church of St Cynog, Defynnog". Church in Wales . Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  7. "St Cynog's Churchyard Yew Tree, Defynnog (405602)". Coflein. RCAHMW . Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  8. Hindson 2014, Abstract.
  9. Cadw. "The Old Vicarage (Grade II) (6776)". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 5 September 2024.

Sources