The name or dedication of the church.
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.
A unique identification number given to every church.
The name of the diocese in which the church is located.
The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.
This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.
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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.
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 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.
There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.
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.
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).
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.
Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc.
If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.
Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).
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.
This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.
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.
Llanddewi Brefi is 12 km north east of Lampeter via the A485 and 4km south of Tregaron along the B4343. The church is in the centre of the village on a raised mound.
Reference OS Map 146 Cadw Listing Notice.
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.
If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.
A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.
The present church dates from C14 when the crossing tower and part of the chancel was built and the C19 when the remainder of the church was rebuilt. The early church was a clas with a Celtic monastery. ‘Pum allor Brefi’ – the five altars, of Brefi are part of a poem of c1200 by Gwynfardd Brycheiniog. The monastery was re-founded by Bishop Bek in 1287 as a college of secular canons which lasted until the reformation. Bishop Burgess considered this a suitable site for his clerical training college, He went so far as to get Nash to draw up plans. The offer of land in Lampeter took the training college there. The nave of the church was rebuilt in 1833-4 by C James of Llanddewi Brefi at a cost of £310. R J Withers proposed a complete restoration in 1873, the tower was restored and the nave remodelled and the chancel in 1886. However, the transepts which had fallen down earlier were not restored. In 1913 W D Caröe engaged in some restoration and fittings were added in 1953-55, the work of A D R Caröe.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Carmarthen and Ceredigion 2006 Cadw Listings Notice The Encyclopaedia of Wales
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The walls of the church are made from turbidites and greywackies as well as Aberystwyth and Cwmystwyth grits which are 400 million years old. Grinshill Stone (from Shropshire) had been used for dressings, the former railway (Aberystwyth to Carmarthen) had facilitated their transportation. The local sandstone beds have provided good flagstone and slabs used in the church (the underside have trace fossils. All this is under a slate roof of west porch, nave and chancel with a central tower. This tower is 11.4m square (30 feet) and 26.6 m (70 feet) high with a renewed 2-light bell opening and a corbelled embattled parapet. It is covered by a C19 pyramid slate roof topped with a weather vane.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Carmarthen and Ceredigion 2006 Cadw Listings Notice Welsh Stone Forum Newsletter No.7 page 23
Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.
Information about any important features and building fabric.
If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.
Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.
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.
There are open arch-braced rather roofs with ashlar rear arches to the windows. The tower has rough stone pointed arches and a pointed vault with bell-rope openings. The church walls are white plaster. Dating from 1846-7 are panelled pine pews given by Queen Adelaide to her doctor Dr David Davies, a native of the parish. The ashlar moulded octagonal bath stone font dates from 1851. The pulpit and reading desks are by A D R Caröe while the simple Gothic altar rail is by Withers who designed the elaborate wooden altar and heavy stone reredos. There are painted tiles in the sanctuary. In the south west corner of the nave is a statue of St David, carved from Portland stone it is the work of F Mancini of 1959. Under the tower are five early Christian. Stones, a. an incised cross with a top bar. b. one with the inscription DALVS DUMELVS, c. a tall stone with half an incised cross. On the south wall d. a tall stone called St David’s Staff with an incised cross and inscription ‘Cenlisini by ds’ (Benedicat Dominus). e. inscribed cross with a bifurcated foot and trefoiled ends. The stained glass: ‘Christ in majesty with St David and St Padarn, Powell & Sons (Whitefriars) Ltd, 1962. The bell was cast in 1888 by John Taylor & Co.
Reference
Buildings of Wales – Carmarthen and Ceredigion 2006 A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead Cadw Listings Notice Stained Glass in Wales
Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings.
Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.
A description of the ecology of the churchyard.
Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.
Records whether the church has been consecrated.
Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.
Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.
Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.
Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.
Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.
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.
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.
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.
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.