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.
Pontfaen lies 8.5km southeast of Fishguard along the B4313 and then northeast towards the river. The church is at the top of the hill about 400m west of Picton Bridge and in front of Plas Pontfaen.
Reference
Cadw Listings Notice Buildings of Wales –Pembrokeshire 2004 AA Route Planner OS map 157
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.
St Brynach’s polygonal churchyard, contains two medieval carved stones (re-erected in 1901) and lies some 350,m south east of Castell Caerwen, an Iron Age enclosure which suggests that they formed two components of a medieval paired site. During the post-Conquest era it was a chapelry of the medieval Deanery of Cemais and an appurtenant to Pill Priory but at the dissolution when its appurtenance was to Haverfordwest Prior, it fell to the Crown. A medieval church is said to have been rebuilt here in 1670, it was much repaired in 1810 at a cost of £180. By 1861 is was derelict and its roof had fallen in, restoration between 1861 and 1863 was by J C Davies of Cenarth who installed a new south window, new roofs, floors and fittings. Further restoration in 1905-7 was by G Morgan & Sons of Carmarthen who lowered the floors, renewed the roofs and added a vestry and porch. The porch was rebuilt again in 1987.
Reference Buildings of Wales –Pembrokeshire 2004. Cadw Listings Notice Coflein 400346
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The church of nave and chancel with a north transept which has a squint passage, porch and vestry together with a west belfry. It was built with rubble limestone with ashlar dressings and slate roof with stone cross finials on the nave and chancel gables.
Reference Buildings of Wales –Pembrokeshire 2004 Coflein 400346 Cadw Listings Notice
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.
The interior walls are plastered and whitewashed with a red-tile floor. There is a plastered pointed chancel arch and a wider, similar arch to the north transept. The 2-bay nave roof has 4 close-spaced arch-braced collar trusses to hammer beams with tracery at each apex. Round the walls is a boarded dado dating from 1922. The transept has 2 similar roof trusses and a broad cambered east arch to the squint passage. Two steps up lead into the chancel which has a similar roof with, at the east end, plain dado panelling. The altar is oak and in the Gothic style with brass altar rails on openwork wrought iron scrolled uprights. The square medieval limestone font has chamfered angles on a chamfered and stopped stem on a plain square base. The pulpit, lectern and reading desk date from 1907. The church has seven stations of the cross and a copy of the late medieval Florentine painting of ‘Madonna Della Stella. Unusually the church has a collection of finely worked vestments displayed under glass. The stained glass: ‘Eucharistic Window’, Heaton, Butler & Baynes, 1898, ‘St Brynach’, Heaton, Butler & Baynes, 1898, ‘St Paul’ Heaton, Butler & Baynes, 1898, ‘The Risen Christ Appearing to S Mary Magdalene’, Heaton, Butler & Baynes, 1903
Reference Buildings of Wales –Pembrokeshire 2004 Cadw Listings Notice Stained Glass in Wales Coflein 400346
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.