St Gwynno, Llanwynno
St Gwynno, Llanwynno
St Gwynno's is a Grade II Church in Wales church in an isolated hilltop position in St Gwynno Forest, Llanwonno, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in the Diocese of Llandaff and the Pontypridd Ministry Area. Cadw lists a historically important medieval hill-top church restored in the nineteenth century with high-quality workmanship.
- Location
- Llanwynno, Glamorgan
- Country
- Wales
- County
- Glamorgan
- City / town
- Llanwynno
- Address
- Llanwynno, Glamorgan, CF37 3PH
- Postcode
- CF37 3PH
- Built
- Medieval (C12–C15); restored 1893–94
- Architect
- George Halliday (1893-94 restoration)
- Denomination
- Church in Wales
- Dedication
- Gwynno
- Diocese
- Llandaff
- Parish
- Pontypridd Ministry Area
- Grade
- II
- Style
- Medieval; Gothic Revival restoration
- Materials
- Rubble with rock-faced stone from restoration, ashlar dressings and slate roof
- Grid reference
- ST 030 956
- Opening hours
- The church is open for a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon in the Summer months.
- Access
- Level access to the main areas
Overview
Cadw records an early Christian foundation, reputedly sixth-century, associated with St Gwynno, a follower of St Illtud. Fragments of early sculpture in the masonry confirm an early site. The church is thought to have been a single cell in the twelfth century, extended to a separate chancel about 1300, with priest's door and south porch added in the fifteenth century. It was a daughter church of Llantrisant and became an independent parish in the eighteenth century.
Miss Olive Talbot of Margam Abbey commissioned George Halliday and Anderson to restore the church in 1893–94 at her expense. A north-east vestry was added and the west front rebuilt with a saddle-back bellcote over an open west porch. The fabric is rubble with rock-faced restoration stone, ashlar dressings and a slate roof. Surviving medieval openings include the inner south door and priest's door. Interior fittings include a fragment of early Christian sculpture (a relief cross in a circle) by the south door, an unusual ring-moulded tub font, and a good collection of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century monuments.