Church of St Stephen (also known as Steffan and Istyffan)

The Church of St Stephen, also known as Steffan and Istyffan, is a largely medieval building constructed of rubble local stone with a stone-slated roof. The earliest parts date to the 13th century, with significant alterations and rebuilding in the 19th century. The church consists of a three to four-bay nave, a chancel, and a sturdy two-stage west tower topped with a pyramidal roof.

The south side of the nave has two windows with trefoiled lights and diamond-shaped heads, lacking hood mouldings. A high-level window was blocked during the construction of a porch on the west side, which has squared snecked rock-faced rubble construction and an outer chamfered arch. A two-centred chamfered 13th-century door leads into the church. The chancel features a three-light east window, with ogee-panelled tracery dating around 1430-50, and twin trefoil-headed lights on the north wall. The south wall of the chancel was rebuilt in the 19th century, replicating the northern design and including a priest’s door.

The west tower is of two stages, with a further half-stage at the top supporting the pyramidal stone-slated roof. The tower walls are slightly battered and have string courses. Small square openings and a blocked door are on the south side.

Inside, the nave roof is from the 19th century, with nine arch-braced collar trusses and a brattished wall cornice. The floor is tiled, and the walls are unplastered. Rere-arches to the chancel windows and a 19th-century chancel arch are present, as is a raised chancel (two steps) which is tiled and unplastered with a restored 17th-century wagon roof. The purlins are chamfered, with the two end bays square-panelled with diagonal boarding over the ribs. The sill of the south chancel window was lowered to create a seat. The altar stands on three raised steps, flanked by stone corbel brackets. A small monolithic headed stoup is located beside the south door in the nave. A 19th-century tower arch has a round, chamfered interior, suggesting an original early 13th-century design. The bell chamber floor rests on five heavy cross beams, bearing on end beams supported by braced posts on both sides; the north cross beams are integrated into the masonry, indicating earlier alterations. The pyramidal roof is probably of 17th-century construction.

Notable fittings include a 19th-century limestone pulpit with an octagonal bowl on four steps, an unfixed iron lectern, and a sanctuary rail with curled iron stanchions. A 14th-century octagonal font was raised onto an octagonal pillar and base in the 19th century. The bellframe is probably 17th century, cross-braced, and carries four bells dated 1616, 1675, and 1754. 19th-century pews and chancel fittings are present, alongside a panelled 17th-century chest located under the tower.

Monuments include a Gothic limestone aedicule on a black backboard on the north wall of the nave, commemorating Thomas Powell of Great House and his wife. On the south side is a Gothic gabled limestone wall monument by Phillips of Talgarth, commemorating David Powell of the Oaklands and his wife. The north wall of the chancel contains a white marble tablet, and a replica of Gentile da Fabriano's Adoration retable, framed with floriated gables and vignettes, given by the vicar in memory of his son who died in the Great War.

Within the churchyard, between a pedestrian gate and a holy spring, stands a 19th-century sundial with a monolithic limestone shaft featuring stopped corner chamfers and an ovolo-moulded cap, bearing a brass dial inscribed "LLANSTEPHAN RADNORSHIRE 1795" and made by Hart (Harl?) of Birmingham.