Llanfrynach Church(Near Cowbridge, Glamorgan)



General view of church with ascending large sycamores

This church is a hidden gem nestled in a hollow behind tall trees immediately to the west of Cowbridge. There are no other buildings nearby and can be accessed either by a sunken lane or public footpaths. There is only one recently planted yew and much of the churchyard is taken up by wet grassland with scrubby trees. Along the boundaries of the large grounds are some magnificent sycamores as well  as oak and ash.

The Pevsner guide says this gives 'an unusually good idea of an un- Victorianized medieval village church' (p382).  What drew my attention however was the stout tower, in contrast to the slender buttressed one at nearby Llanblethian, and the very fine slate roofing. The west side of the tower has particular charm with its worn, rounded stone and carved tablets of various dates. 

Stone tablets and window detail of West tower

Fine roof of graded small slates as well as detail of timber construction and hood moulding with spandrels

West tower showing put logs, belfry window mouldings, string mouldings and corbelled parapet

According to the information panel on site the church was originally twelth century and the chancel arch and continuous stone benches lining the nave are of this date. Apparently the original village that was here was wiped out by the black death and it served the village of Penllyn, more than a mile away.

Quote from Newman, John.1995,'Glamorgan. The Buildings of Wales. Pevsner Architectural Guides' Yale University Press