CYNWYL ELFED CHURCH A BRIEF GUIDE FOR VISITORS Welcome to this ancient and holy place which has served the people of Cynwyl Elfed a millennium and a half as the place where they have heard the Word of God preached, received the Sacraments and sought God's blessing at the most important stages of their lives and those of their loved ones. This area of Carmarthenshire was known in Roman times as Elvetia - hence its name Elfed. According to tradition, the church in 'this place was founded in the sixth century by Cynwyl, who is said to have been the brother of Deiniol, the founder (about 550AD) and first bishop of Bangor in North Wales. Like most churches in Wales in the Celtic period, the original building here would have been made of wattle and daub; there would have been a settlement of similarly constructed houses where the extended family of Christians lived around their church within the enclosure known as Y Llan. The circular shape of the churchyard, adjacent to the river, is typical of this period. The present building is medieval in origin and was begun in the 14th century. The oldest part, the North Aisle (to your left as you come in) is known Yr Hen Eglwys - The Old Church - and the doorway appears to date from that century. It is likely that owing to the prosperity enjoyed in this village because of the woolen industry, the church was extended in the early 16th century and the present main aisle added at that time. For centuries the church was a chapel of ease to the much larger parish of Abernant. In the wall behind the Font you will see the Holy Water Stoup which is thought to date ftom the 14th century. It has a trifoliated head, symbolising the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Attached to north wall is what some have thought to have been the font belonging to the original church. More likely, it is another holy water stoup. The rough-hewn pillars are built of Glamorgan stone, and have a simple charm of their own. There are several sockets in them, which suggests that at some time the north aisle has been screened off from the rest of the church. You will notice that the walls of rubble stone are very thick. The windows on the north side (on your left) are square-headed and date from the 15th century. Two of these windows have been filled in, and their outline can be seen from outside the church. The windows on the south side (on your right) are gothic in style, with Victorian glass with a clover leaf motif - the emblem of the Trinity. Note the small but widely spaced chancel in front of the altar rails. The east window (behind the altar) is unique, and it depicts the five wounds of Our Lord. This was a popular late medieval motif, but is rare in later Anglican art, and was designed by Seddon in 1876. On the south side are traces of a priest's doorway; this has been filled in and can best be seen from the churchyard. The medieval church was in ruins in the 18th century and was restored several times. The most important restoration was carried out between 1863 and 1877 by the famous church architect P J Seddon. The fine barrel roof was rebuilt by a local craftsman, John Thomas of Abernant. The bell-cote was added at this time. The original drawings are in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. A further restoration was carried out in 1903. The church once possessed an Elizabethan communion cup of a style not uncommon in Carmarthenshire, with the inscription, Poculum Eclesie de Kinwill 1574 - ‘The Cup of the Church of Cynwyl’. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in a house fire at Lleine Farm in 1915. The list of parish priests goes back to 1552. We hope you have enjoyed your visit to this ancient house of God's people, where prayer has been valid for so long. Please do not leave without remembering those who worship here, and take with you the peace of God which passes all understanding. (Written by Anthony Crockett, Vicar of Cynwyl Elfed and Archdeacon of Carmarthen, 2003)