St Afan's Church, Llanafan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Afan's |
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| 52°19′53″N 3°55′56″W / 52.3313°N 3.9321°W | |
| Location | Llanafan, Ceredigion |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Saint Afan Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 620 |
| Founder(s) | Saint Afan |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Historic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Llanafan y Trawscoed |
| Deanery | Llanbadarn Fawr |
| Diocese | Diocese of St David's |
Saint Afan's Church is a historic church located in Llanafan, a village in Ceredigion, Wales. It is about 8 miles (13 km) east of Aberystwyth. This church has a long history, dating back to the 6th century.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The very first church on this spot is believed to have been built by Saint Afan in the 6th century. For many years during the medieval period, Saint Afan's was a smaller church connected to the larger Llanbadarn Fawr church.
The Vaughan family of Trawsgoed played a big part in the church's history. They were responsible for its upkeep for centuries. In 1741, John Vaughan, 2nd Viscount Lisburne, was buried here. Since then, many family leaders have been laid to rest at Llanafan church.
The church building was changed quite a bit in the early 1800s. It was then completely rebuilt in 1873 by Ernest Vaughan, 4th Earl of Lisburne.
The Story of Joseph Butler
A famous grave in the churchyard belongs to Joseph Butler. He was a gamekeeper for the Vaughan family's Trawsgoed estate. Sadly, he was shot and killed by a poacher named Wil Cefn Coch in 1868. The killer managed to escape to America and lived there until 1920.
The Church Building Today
The church building you see today was updated in 1832. We don't know exactly when the very first structure was built. However, the Vaughan family has owned the land around the church since the 1200s, so a church likely stood here much earlier.
In 1833, Samuel Lewis described the church. He mentioned it had a nave (the main part), a chancel (where the altar is), and a south transept (a side section). He also noted a beautiful carved screen that once separated the chancel from the nave. The old, eight-sided font (a basin for baptisms) is still there too.
Among the church's special items is an old silver dish. It is decorated with twelve figures, including warriors and dragons, all fighting in pairs. The church is located near the river Ystwyth. In the churchyard, there is a lovely path lined with trees leading to the church.
Special Features Inside
The church is known for its beautiful stained glass windows from the early 1900s. These windows remember members of the Vaughan family. You can also see a copy of the Welsh Bible from 1620, known as Beibl Parry. Two special family crests, called funeral hatchments, are also displayed inside.
Church Services and Community
Saint Afan's Church is part of the parish of Llanafan y Trawsgoed. It belongs to the Grwp Bro Ystwyth a Mynach group of churches and the Diocese of St David's. As of 2011, Reverend I. E. Rose was the Associate Priest for the parish. Anglican services are held every Sunday in both English and Welsh.
