John's Homepage

Back to index	Images of Wales

St Cynog's Church, Defynnog, Breconshire

Denomination: Anglican

Dedication: St Cynog

Built: Late Medieval

Note 1:
St Cynog's church undoubtedly has a long history though whether the reputed 'Celtic window' is an authentic pre-Conquest feature cannot be ascertained. The tower and the body of the church are late medieval though of different builds, and internally there is an interesting range of furnishings including an early medieval inscribed stone and a font and stoup both of early date.
[Extracted from Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) website]
Note 2:
This early medieval church may contain a few pre-Norman Conquest features, such as the font and stoup, but their exact age is uncertain. It was Grade I listed in January 1963.
[Extracted from Brecon Beacons National Park Authority Local Development Plan – SCHEDULE OF PROPOSED FOCUSED CHANGES – Draft for the purposes of NPA Meeting: 10th October 2011 (Download available here)]

Further details and history: CPAT website

Photography: John Ball, Ruth Sharville and John Grayson
(see details under photographs)

Above: Defynnog viewed from the road to Crai.
[Photography by John Ball, 22 Jan 2012, with Canon IXUS 115 HS compact digital]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: St Cynog's Church viewed from the southeast.
[Photography by John Ball, 24 Sep 2002, with Sigma SA-300 35 mm SLR]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: St Cynog's Church viewed from the southeast.
[Photography © Copyright Ruth Sharville, 8 March 2010, and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: St Cynog's Church viewed from the east.
[Photography © Copyright Ruth Sharville, 8 March 2010, and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: St Cynog's Church viewed from the south.
[Photography by John Ball, 19 May 1998, with Agfa ePhoto307 compact digital]

Note 3:
During 2010, St Cynog's Church was limewashed to help protect its fabric from the weather. Although some local residents raised objections to the change in the appearance of the church, it was argued that the limewash treatment merely restored the church to its appearance earlier in its history. All the photographs that follow were taken after the application of the limewash.

Above: St Cynog's Church viewed from the south.
[Photography © Copyright John Grayson, 24 July 2011, and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: St Cynog's Church viewed from the southeast.
[Photography by John Ball, 1 July 2012, with Nikon D50 digital SLR]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: St Cynog's Church viewed from the northwest.
[Photography © Copyright John Grayson, 24 July 2011, and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: Nave, looking towards the east window.
[Photography by John Ball, 1 July 2012, with Nikon D50 digital SLR]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: Nave, viewed from the east.
[Photography by John Ball, 1 July 2012, with Nikon D50 digital SLR]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: Three arches separate the nave from the north chapel.
[Photography by John Ball, 1 July 2012, with Nikon D50 digital SLR]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: Sanctuary, altar and reredos.
[Photography by John Ball, 1 July 2012, with Nikon D50 digital SLR]
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

Above: 11th century stoup (left); and 5th or 6th century Roman tombstone (right).
[Photography by John Ball, 1 July 2012, with Nikon D50 digital SLR]

Note 4:
The tombstone (above right) is etched in capital letters, reading vertically upwards "RUGNIATIO LIVENDONIO" – (The stone of) Rugniatis, son of Vendonius. The stone also bears traces of Ogham script. Near the top is a lightly carved double-beaded quadruple triangular panel bearing a Celtic ring-cross, added in the 7th to 9th century. [Source: Information board inside the south porch]

Below: Lychgate at southern entrance to St Cynog's Churchyard.
St Cynog's Church, Defynnog

[Photography by John Ball, 1 July 2012, with Nikon D50 digital SLR]

Back to index	Images of Wales