Church of St Cynllo

Church of St Cynllo

This is an Anglican parish church built in 1830–32 by David Evans of Cardigan, substantially remodelled in 1859–60 by R J Withers, a London architect. The building is constructed from coursed rubble stone with Bath stone tracery, slate roofs, and red crested ridges.

The plan consists of a nave and chancel of nearly equal length, with the chancel ridge slightly lower. The architectural character reflects its two main periods: the exceptional slate classical steeple over the chancel arch dates from the original 1830–32 build; the ashlar plate tracery windows and south porch date from the 1859–60 remodelling; and a west bellcote was added in 1891. The church features coped gables and renewed cross finials throughout.

The steeple is the most remarkable feature—a miniature classical spire in Cilgerran stone, restored in 1993. It rises in three tiers. The bottom two tiers have Roman Doric columns in antis, pedestal and entablature; the columns were renewed in turned slate during the 1993 restoration. The blocking course over the lowest tier serves as the plinth for the next stage. The bottom tier contains arched niches. Above this rises a spirelet of obelisk form on plinth and panelled pedestal; the shaft is four-sided with chamfered angles and is topped with Neo-Grec acroterial ornaments at each stage. The west bellcote is plain with shouldered coping, matching the similar coping of the gables and south porch. The south porch has a tall chamfered entry with impost bands and contains a roll-moulded pointed door within.

The windows reflect the 1859–60 work. The nave has a two-light window on the west and two flush two-light windows on each side; the side windows are uncusped with circles above. The chancel has two similar windows to the south, with a lean-to vestry beyond, and one to the north; the tracery here includes some simple cusping. The east window of the chancel is three-light with two sexfoils. All windows have Cilgerran stone voussoirs. The nave east side has low sloping buttressing on each side. The vestry is a lean-to structure with an acutely pointed two-light east window, a Caernarvon-arched west door, and a strongly modelled chimneystack that is stepped-in with a gabled cap pierced by a quatrefoil.

Interior

The interior has plaster-panelled three-sided roofs and plastered walls. The thick chancel arch, dating from the 1859 remodelling, has thin ringed shafts let into the angles at west and east, and a seat inset on the north side.

The fittings are almost entirely from 1859: a large square cushion font that appears to be 19th-century work, though H M Vaughan believed it to be a recut medieval piece; inside is a medieval octagonal stoup with angle lobes. The pews, prayer desks, stalls, rails and altar table are High Victorian work in simple pine. Simple tile floors are laid throughout, with patterned encaustic tiles to the reredos. A highly ornate carved stone pulpit of 1903 features pierced tracery and an angle statue, set upon squat marble columns.

Stained glass windows include the east and west windows of 1859 by Lavers and Barraud of London, with the east window being of superior quality. Two south chancel windows date from 1883 and 1887, both by Cox, Son, Buckley & Co; the 1883 window is notable for its strong line drawing. A chancel north window in 15th-century style dates from 1932 and is signed 'W'; a nave south window from 1930 is signed W Glasby.

Monuments and memorials are numerous. On the nave north side: an alabaster monument to Lieutenant Colonel G Lloyd of Treforgan (killed 1900); a fine low-relief kneeling female figure with urn to Elizabeth Mitchell (died 1827); a Neo-Grec memorial with urn to Rees Price of Gwellwen (died 1827); and a large marble scroll to Jonathan Jenkins of Cilbronnau (died 1851) by M W Johnson of London. On the south side: a plaque with urn to Evan Davies of Treforgan (died 1832). On the nave east wall: a rustic classical plaque to Magdalen Lewis of Llwyngrawys (died 1729). In the chancel south: a plaque to Owen Lloyd of Abertrinant (died 1812) signed by Barlow of London, featuring reeded pilasters and an urn; a large 19th-century hatchment; two plaques of 1857 to successive Thomas Lloyds of Coedmore (died 1810 and 1857); and a betrophied memorial to Colonel H Vaughan of Plas Llangoedmore (killed 1855) by S Manning.