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From: Emily Aulicino <aulicino(a)teleport.com>
Subject: Wales Trip --Part 4b -Llanfor Church
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Part 4b --28 July 2000, con't.
In Bala, we ate at the Red Poppy as recommended by Gary and Sandy, bought a
violet for Mr. Cyril Jones's wife, the gentleman who was scheduled to show
us Llanfor Church at 3:30. He was waiting for us when we arrived at 3:15.
(Roland may wish to add some better detail to this tour as he took it the
day before using his video camera.)
Some history first:
Llanfor Church is the Church of St. Daniol (the same saint who is
responsible for Bangor Cathedral) and St. Mor. Llan originally meant an
enclosure, but now means a church and usually the saint's name follows it.
The old civil parish extended from the borders of Yspytty to Llanwddyn,
about twenty miles north to south and from the border of Corwen to Bala,
about ten miles east to west. It then included the townships of Llan,
Penmaen, Nant Lleidiog, Llawrybettws, Rhiwaedog Uwch Afon, Rhiwaedog Is
Afon, Ucheldre, Garth and Ciltalgarth. This was an area of 20,030 acres.
This has been greatly modified with the formation of the parishes of
Frongoch, Llawrybettws and Rhosygwalia. Now only the townships of Llan
Penmaen and Nant Lleidiog are left.
The Parish Church is said to have been "founded by Mor ap Ceneu, a saint of
the fifth century, the reputed founder of Llannor, in Carnarvonshire and
joint-founder of Llanynys in Denbighshire, in conjunction with St. Deiniol,"
but show "from the Taxations that Llanfor stands for Llanfawr, as in
Dolfor, Trefor, Nanmor and that the true founder was St. Deiniol whose
festival, September 11th was kept as the wake-day and whose well was close
to the church."
The church was in poor condition in the 1800s and replaced. Some of the old
items remained. "In the splay of the easternmost window in the north wall
was a fragment of Romano-British inscription, which read CAVOSENIARGLI.
Above the door of the Rhiwlas chapel were two inscriptions, the first
recording its erection with the name and date of the founder, K. 1599, P.
KPAR HOC FECIT "(footnote states: "Kadwaladr Prys ap Robert" of Rhiwlas,
was
son of Sir Robert ap Rhys, the chaplain and crossbearer to Cardinal Wolsey,
and brother to the notorious Dr. Elis Price, 'Y Doctor Goch of Blas Iolyn.'
Robert ap Rice bequeathed by Will, 1534, 'all my fermes and termes in
M'yeonethshire and Carnarvonshire to Kalwaladr ap Robert, except the parcell
of Dolgenwall being in Carnarvonshire which with other property in
Denbighshire to Thomas Vichan ap Robert ap Rice.'") "The other, the date
of
its repair, with the legend, 'Esgyned gweddi, Disgyned gras.....Adgyweiriwyd
AD 1755, P. (written above the next letters, like a math
fraction --computers aren't versitile! <G>) W.E.' Within it were tablets
to
Rowland Owen of Frongoch, 1717, and to his son, Rowland Owen, clerk 1767."
In the old church, there also existed some monuments with armorial shields
to Sarah, Viscountess Bulkeley and her son Thomas, her son-in-law Roger
Price of Rhiwlas and her daughter Hon. Catherine Atkinson. Also a monument
to Robertus Price, 1748, etat 26. These all dying by 1765. The remainder
were in the 1800s.
"In 1874, the old church was taken down with the exception of the tower,
which was repaired, raised a story and capped as before with a saddle roof,
but without dormer window or steps." the new church was re-built on the old
plan and the name and chancel are divided by an oak screen, partly from the
old church and partly new. Some parts of it were discovered when tearing
the old church down. Construction started 14 Aug 1874 and finished 25 Nov
1875 with the cost of 3,000 pounds. The chief contributors included: Mr.
R.J. Ll Price 500 pounds; the late Mrs. Roberts, the Rectory, 200 pounds;
the Rev.T. Morgan, Mrs. Price, Colomendy, late of Rhiwals, and Mr. T.J.
Jones, each 100 pounds.
(Source: The chapter entitled: "The Rural Deanery of Penllyn", p. 104-111
from a book at the Dolgellau Records office or the NWL, that I stupidly
forgot to copy the title and bibliography. I'll try to get Roy to bail me
out.)
Back to our tour: Mr. Jones told us that the parish was reduced in size
(see above) in 1858, but the church is no longer in use; no services are
currently held.
On the opposite side of the old gate (original gate) is a large Mausoleum
for the Price family. On it is an inscription about thanking a horse for
helping to build it. Richard John Lloyd Price who built the mausoleum had
won a bet on a horse race at the Jubilee and used some of the money to have
it built. When he wanted the bishop to bless it, the bishop refused because
of the inscription in the stone. Mr. Price had it removed, invited the
bishop back who blessed it and then the inscription was re-inserted. Mr.
Jones said there were several coffins in it and somewhat recently (but when
he was young) the workers had the door open so he was able to see in it.
The workers were instructed to put all the coffins in the middle of the
building and enclose them in brick as the wooden door could be destroyed
easily and perhaps thieves think there is something of value in there.
The church foyer held many of the relicts mentioned above, but as you walked
into the door the old baptismal font lay on the ground outside, just to the
right of the door. the old church bell was on the floor in the foyer to the
left. Its date was 1683 with the name Price above it. Above the bell were
three stones, all separate from each other and embedded in the wall. Mr.
Jones gave the translations:
KPARH OCFE IT (Prayers ascend and blessings descend)
K1599P (Kaldalwr Price 1799)
CAVOSENIARCH (See above --I wrote what it looked like to me at the time)
Mr. Jones said the translation is unknown, but believed to be 6th century
according to someone who visited the church a few years ago.
Old grave stones or plagues hung on the walls and Mr. Jones told us he rings
the church bell every New Year's Eve. He told us the he gave it an extra
pull for the Millennium last year. In a few hours, he'll pull it again! <G>
The old organ was given to the church in Trevor which is between Llangollen
and Wexham, the screens before reaching the alter and the alter were from
the old church. He thinks that the alter may have been repaired in the
1600s. He also mentioned that his son was the last person baptized in the
newer font.
He showed us a picture of the first church and some other printed data. I
asked if I could make copies and he invited us to his home to show us the
picture of it he had on his wall. Priscilla and I were wondering how his
wife would take us --the people who asked to see the church the after Roland
and Unc had devourer his day...
She offered us cookies and tea and was very nice, but shy. We left about
4;30 and ran to Bala to photocopy at Spars (local grocery chain), returning
to drop off the originals about 5pm.
Back to Fron Goch, Roland and I shared highlights of our day and the four us
of went to the Old School House for dinner. there was a poster about the
old whiskey distillery that has been since torn down after it became a
prison for Germans at one time and for the IRA prisoners during their war of
independence in the early 1900s.
The four of us then drove back to the B & B where Gary and Sandy were
staying --Rhydydefaid Farm and spent the eveing with Mr & Mrs. John E.
Davies, brother of Dewi of Fron Goch.
Olwen, wife of John had done some of her genealogy and had some information
others had sent her. We shared and compared data, had Sherry --while some
had tea. She has had her B & B since at least 1992 with visitors from all
over the world. We returned about 11pm and she let me borrow her papers to
copy which I returned the following day. She has a connection to the Evans
clan, but only from someone's chart. There appears some conflict with what
we know at this time.
Well, poor Carys....her guests in late, again! Hopefully, they are heavy
sleepers! <G>
Until the next time.....
Emily
PS: I will be offline for a few days as my system needs repair. A friend
is sending this. Have a great New Year's!