Church Heritage Record

Church Heritage Record 2998

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Core DetailsLocationBuildingInteriorChurchyardSignificanceEnvironmentAudit

St Mary, Llanfair

Name:

The name or dedication of the church.

St Mary, Llanfair
Record Type:

This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.

Daughter Church
Church code:

A unique identification number given to every church.

2998
Diocese:

The name of the diocese in which the church is located.

St Davids
Archdeaconry:

The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.

Carmarthen
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.

This is a Grade I Listed Building
Scheduled Monument?

Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites. 

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.

The church is not in a Conservation Area

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Buildings At Risk Status

On Buildings At Risk Register?

The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales. 

This church is not on the Buildings at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).

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Exterior Image

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Summary Description

This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More  detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.

Llanfair-Ar-Bryn church lies outside its parish and within Llandovery. The parish is the hills country of north Carmarthenshire an area of strong nonconformism. William Williams Pantycelyn, the hymn writer and evamngelist was born within the parish in 1717. The local bandit, Twm Shon Catti established himself in the cave Ystrad Ffin in the C16. Reference Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994 The Encyclopaedia of Wales

Visiting and Facilities

Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc. 

The church is open for worship.
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Church Website

Church Website:

If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.

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Sources and Further Information

Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).

View information on worship and access at this church on the Church In Wales web site

This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.

Grid Reference: SN 769 351

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Church address

Address
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
St Mary Llanfair Llandovery SA20 0EH

Administrative Area

Unitary Authority:

This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.

Sir Gaerfyrddin - Carmarthenshire

Location and Setting

This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.

The parish church of Llanfair-ar-Bryn is actually in Llandovery on the northeast side of the town on the road to  Builth Wells 40km to the northeast.

Reference

AA Route Planner 
Cadw Listings Notice
OS Map 160

Church Plan

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Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

This is a description of the ground plan of the church.

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Dimensions

If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.

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Description of Archaeology and History

A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.

Like the church in Holyhead this church is built on the site of a Roman fort – Alabum which was built during the Flavian advance in AD70s.  The fort was a regular enclosure 180m NE-SW and 140m NW-SE and is now split by a road looping round off the A483.  The majority of the fort is now within the churchyard.  A cell of the Benedictine Priory at Great Malvern was established here c1126 following the conquest of the area by Richard Fitz Ponds in c1110.  The area was reconquered by Thys ap Gruffudd of Deheubarth in 1165.  Initially he was happy to have cell there but he was not happy with the lax behaviour of the monks and the cell was suppressed.  Gerald of Wales recorded that the wives of the townsfolk were not safe from the monks.  Although the parish church of Llanfair-ar-y-Bryn this church is located in Llandovery (Llandingat) parish and in 1883 a parish church was built at Cynghordy in 1883, this church then becoming a chapel of ease to St Dingat’s church1.5km to the south.  The hymn writer and evangelist William Williams Pantecelyn (1717-17910 is buried in the churchyard and his desk is in the vestry (Note Williams was a Deacon of the Church of England but was refused ordinations as a priest.) In 1854 George Burrow the writer of ‘Wild Wales’ attended a service her. The nave and chancel are thought to be C12 and in 1290 the church was restored at which time the east bay was raised and the former south chapel was constructed.  In 1484 Richard III donated 10 marks to the church (1 mark was worth 13s8d, 66p).  During the late c15 the tower was built and a rood screen installed. In 1710the area between the south chapel and the porch was some 25ft in length (about 8m) and was full of skulls and bones to a height of 6ft (2m) all piled against the church wall.  Restoration occurred in 1880 when the organ chamber was added and the porch rebuilt.  The tower restoration took place in 1906 and then in 1913, to designs by W D Caröe, the church was restored.  Caröe found that the C15 west window had been re-set up side down.  Medieval openings were unblocked, the church was re-floored and the porch, vestry and organ chamber were re-roofed, chairs replaced pews

Reference

Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994
Cadw Listings Notice
Coflein 103828
Abbeys & Priories of Medieval Wales Janet Burton and Kate Stöber 2015

Exterior Description

A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.

This is a church of nave and chancel in one with a large west tower, a south porch a north vestry and an organ chamber.  It was built with rubble stone with late medieval old red sandstone dressings with some limestone and Roman tiles, yellow oolite from 1880 and more old red sandstone from 1880 and 1913, all under plain tile roofs.  The tower has a south east square stair tower buttressed by the south west corner of the nave.  The tower had a battered base with a string course above, a C15 west doorway reopened in 1906, with corbelling above. The top of the tower has large gargoyle spouts and battlements which are taller on the stair tower.

Reference

Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994
Cadw Listings Notice
Coflein 103828

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.

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Building Fabric and Features

Information about any important features and building fabric.

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Building Materials

If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.

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Interior Image

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Interior Description

This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.

The whole interior shows an impressive width. There is a pointed barrel vault at the base of the tower with a room above (possibly a priest’s room) and then a ringing room.  The nave roof is of 11bays, possible C17, with 12 close spaced collar trusses with arched braces, straight braces and wishbone struts of the collars.  The chancel has a pine boarded ceiling of 1880 of 8x6 panels, a shallow cornice with bosses.  Both the nave and chancel are plastered but retain traces of wall paintings.  These are pre-Reformation with a chevron border and traces of a polychrome figure, the other has text overlying an earlier red-yellow border and is thought to be C16/C17.  From 1880 there is a broad segmental arch to the organ chamber and vestry.  A single step up from the nave leads into the chancel which has tiled floors, here the floor has been raised as there an earlier east window at floor level. Made from a red conglomerate is a c15 stone font with an octagonal bowl which is chamfered beneath and which sits on a C20 stem.  The altar table and credence date to C17.  The pulpit is by Caröe, made from timber it is octagonal on a tapering base. The organ of 1880 is by Bevington & Sons of Soho, it has painted pipes in a Gothic case.  From the late C19 are the chancel stalls with cusped arcading to the fronts.  From c1986 there is a brass, eagle lectern.  The stained glass: the tower west window ‘The Sun’ in vibrant colours, John Petts, 1972; ‘Christ Healing the Sick’, in the style of Hardman, 1880; ‘St George tangled with a Nazi Swastika and a dachshund’, John Petts, 1965 to designs by Mary Halliday; a narrow window, ‘CARDI’ (Love thou), John Petts, 1972; ‘Feed my Lambs’, Kempe & Co, c1924; ‘Crucifixion with Revds Rhys Prichard and William Williams’, the figures on clear ground, Kempe & Co, c1924.  There are two bells. One cast in 1684 by Henry I Bagley, the other of 1902 cast by Charles Carr.

Reference

Buildings of Wales –Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion 1994
Cadw Listings Notice
Coflein 103828
A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings. 

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Portable Furnishings and Artworks

Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.

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Ecology

A description of the ecology of the churchyard.

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Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

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Burial and War Grave Information

Records whether the church has been consecrated.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.

It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.

It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.

The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Daughter Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Daughter Church

Churchyard Structures

Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.

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Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Setting Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.

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Fabric Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Fabric Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.

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Interior Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Interior Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.

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Community Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Community Significance Description:

Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community. 

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Church Renewables

Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.

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Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Daughter Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

"Seek Advice" Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Daughter Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Daughter Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Daughter Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Daughter Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Daughter Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionTue 26 Jan 2021 15:23:02
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionTue 26 Jan 2021 15:22:21
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionTue 26 Jan 2021 15:22:03
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Asset AddressTue 26 Jan 2021 11:23:38
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Burial and War Grave informationTue 26 Jan 2021 11:21:16
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the National Park informationTue 26 Jan 2021 11:21:04
Tina AndrewModified the Grid ReferenceTue 26 Jan 2021 08:38:18
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Location and Setting DescriptionSat 23 Jan 2021 11:36:40
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionSat 23 Jan 2021 11:36:08
Tina AndrewCreated new asset - Imported initial recordWed 11 Nov 2015 19:06:57
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