| St Derfel's Church | |
|---|---|
Eglwys Derfel Sant | |
.jpg) | |
  St Derfel's Church Location in Gwynedd | |
| 52°55′17″N3°30′58″W / 52.9213°N 3.5162°W /52.9213; -3.5162 | |
| Location | Llandderfel,Gwynedd |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Anglican (Church in Wales) |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founder | Saint Derfel |
| Dedication | Saint Derfel |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 20 October 1966 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | St Asaph |
| Archdeaconry | Montgomery |
| Parish | Llandderfel |
St Derfel's Church is located on the northern edge of the village ofLlandderfel,Gwynedd, Wales. The church is dedicated toSaint Derfel, a Welsh saint. Derfel is reputed to have lived in the 5th/6th century and been a warrior ofKing Arthur, and one of only seven of his knights who survived theBattle of Camlann, at which Arthur himself was killed. Derfel then became a monk and founded two churches, that at Llandderfel, and a chapel nearCwmbran in South Wales. In theMiddle Ages, a pilgrimage cult developed around Derfel, and an effigy of his horse (or a stag), theCeffyl Derfel (Derfel's horse), is located in the church. The church was largely rebuilt in the early 1600s, although its origins go back to a pre-Normanclas. It is aGrade I listed building.
The village ofLlandderfel stands in the eastern part of Gwynedd, equidistant betweenLlandrillo, Denbighshire andLake Bala. The church stands on the western edge of the village and is dedicated toSaint Derfel, a Welsh saint.[1] Derfel reputedly lived in the 5th/6th century and was one of only seven warriors ofKing Arthur who survived theBattle of Camlann, at which Arthur himself was killed. Derfel became a monk and founded two churches, that at Llandderfel, and a chapel nearCwmbran in South Wales. In theMiddle Ages, a major pilgrimage cult developed around Derfel, and an effigy of his horse (or a stag), theCeffyl Derfel (Derfel's horse), is located in the church.[2] The horse stood next to a wooden effigy of Derfel, in fullarmour and an object of veneration. The statue of Derfel was removed on the orders ofThomas Cromwell in 1538, despite the villagers' offer of the then huge sum of £40 toEllis Price, Cromwell's enforcer in North Wales, to spare it.[3] The statue was taken to London where it was used askindling for thepyre on which the martyrJohn Forest was burnt. The effigy of the stag survives although its head was removed in the 18th century.[4]
The church dates from the early 16th century, although its origins go back to a pre-Normanclas.[5] It was restored in 1870.[6] The poetDewi Havhesp, who lived in the village for many years, is buried in the churchyard.[7] The church remains an active parish church in theDiocese of St Asaph and occasional services are held.[1]
The church has a combinednave andchancel with a porch andvestry forming acruciform plan, with abellcote. The building material is local slate stone with aWelsh slate roof.[5] TheRoyal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) describes the interior as a "well-preserved example of a late medieval building, retaining good original external character and interior detail".[6] TheTudor roof is original.[5] Richard Haslam, Julian Orbach and Adam Voelcker, in their 2009 editionGywnedd, in theBuildings of Wales series, call theCeffyl Derfel, "a medieval relic of exceptional rarity".[3] St Derfel's is a Grade Ilisted building.[5] Itslychgate is listed at Grade II.[8]
_04.jpg)
_14.jpg)
