The origins of the Parish of Llangyfelach are shrouded in the mists of time, as is the exact identity of St Cyfelach.

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One proposition is that Cyfelach was an early Saint of the Celtic Church who founded an enclosure here and that it was later abandoned and re-established by St David in the 6th Century. This is based on a reference in the "Life of St David" (written by Rhigyfarch circa 1090) which states "David built a church at Raglan in Gwent and then built a church at Llangyfelach in Gower..." The "Chronicle of the Princess" in 754 however, refers to a Bishop of Cyfelach of Glamorgan who died fighting the Saxons. This gives rise to the suggestion that Bishop Cyfelach was the founder in the 8th Century. Either way, the foundation was pre-Norman and a "Mother Church" in the early Celtic Christian tradition - roughly the equivalent of the medieval Church's monastery or abbey.

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At this time, Gower was "buffer" territory held at various times by the Kingdoms of East and West Wales respectively and with the Bishops of Llandaff and St David's vying for authority over its churches. It seems evident that St David's eventually won the day, for the Bishops of that Diocese became Lord of the manor to four local manors - Clase, Penderi, Parcel Mawr and Rhwng-dwyclydach. The name Clase probably derives from the Latin "Classis", meaning mother, though its Welsh form Clas, has the meaning of cloister or community.

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Evidence of the Celtic period can still be found in the Church and its surrounding churchyard:-

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1. On the North wall of the Nave, near the pulpit can be found a 9th Century Celtic Cross Slab (the only one in Gower) which has an inscription which, when translated reads "the Cross of Christ". This was found under the Nave during restoration work in 1913.

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2. Behind the Tower (detached from the Church) stands the base of a 10th Century Celtic Cross, each side showing carvings of a different design. The base is hollow and the stone which now "tops" it was put there to prevent frost damage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.The lintel across the top of the entrance to the tower has some remaining traces of a Celtic Cross

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very early Celtic Churches were usually built of wood, and as they were considered impermanent, the site rather than the Church was normally consecrated. The fact therefore, that in approximately 1066 the Bishop of Llandaff consecrated a church in Llangyfelach (and ordained two priests) implies that it was of stone construction, which makes it one of the earliest stone Churches in South Wales. It was probably built on the foundations, and using the walls, of the pre-Norman Church. With the exception of the tower, that has all disappeared

 

At about 1290, the Collegiate Church at Llangadog took over the church at Llangyfelach together with its tithes, which were then paid in kind. Tithe barns were necessary to store the corn, and the present church is in fact, the old Tithe Barn. The old medieval church would have been attached to the tower which is still standing, but a great storm in 1805 rendered the Nave unusable, so rather than rebuild the Nave the parishioners decided to hold services in the Tithe Barn. Eventually, tithes were paid in cash and the Barn, no longer required for its original purpose became what was known as Llangyfelach Parish Church.

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Other interesting features :

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• The Marmaduke Matthews brass (17th Century) in the North wall of the Chancel

• 18th Century Benefaction Boards in the Lady Chapel

• Llangyfelach Fair was a very ancient institution, held on "Mabsant" days (St David's Day and those following). People from far and wide came to buy and sell, originally flannel but later, all kinds of commodities. Hiring also took place. It was held in the Churchyard, with the tombstones being used as stalls, and the incumbent of the day had the right to insist on the use of his own "yardsticks" for measuring - these of course had to be paid for. This went on until 1815, when the then incumbent the Revd Daniel Rowlands, in an act reminiscent of the "money-changers" in the Temple, threw the Fair out of the Churchyard, where it subsequently transferred to a nearby filed.

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The above brief notes on the History of Llangyfelach Church are based on a talk given by Mr Luke Toft to the Gower Society at the then Llangyfelach Parish Church on Saturday 27th April 1991 and are reproduced here with his kind permission given in May 1991.

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