St Padarn's Church, Llanbadarn Fawr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Padarn's Church
Eglwys Sant Padarn
St Padarn's Church
OS grid reference	SN 599809
Location	Llanbadarn Fawr, Ceredigion
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church in Wales
History
Dedication	Saint Padarn
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I listed building (9832)
Designated	21 January 1964
Years built	1257
Administration
Parish	Llanbadarn Fawr and Elerch and Penrhyncoch and Capel Bangor
Deanery	Llanbadarn Fawr
Archdeaconry	Cardigan
Diocese	Diocese of St David's

Saint Padarn's Church is a very old and important church in Llanbadarn Fawr, Ceredigion, near Aberystwyth, in Wales. It is the largest mediaeval (Middle Ages) church in mid-Wales. It belongs to the Church in Wales.

This church has a long history. It started as a Welsh monastic centre, a place for monks. Over time, it changed many times. It was a Benedictine priory, then a monastic centre again. It was also a royal church and later controlled by an abbey in Chester. Since 1538, it has been a local parish church.

History of St Padarn's Church

The land where St Padarn's Church stands has been used for Christian worship for a very long time. It was likely settled in the early 500s by Saint Padarn. The church is named after him. We don't have many old records or archaeological finds. So, much of its early history is based on guesses, not definite facts.

How the Church Started in the 500s

We don't know the exact year Saint Padarn founded the church. But it's clear that Llanbadarn Fawr began in the early 500s. It was a Celtic clas church. A clas was a type of early Christian settlement. It was not a cathedral like we know today. It was more like a college for priests.

Llanbadarn Fawr was one of the most important clasau in early Christian Wales. It was also a key place for writing and learning.

Who was Saint Padarn?

We know very little for sure about Saint Padarn (also called Paternus). The first written mention of him was around 1097. But we can still get a general idea of his life.

After he died, people recognized him as a saint. This was common in Europe during the early Middle Ages. In the 1100s, people decided to write a Vita or Latin Life about him. This was a tradition to make saints seem more holy and able to perform miracles. These "Lives" were not like modern biographies.

Traditionally, Padarn came from Brittany. But he might have been from southeast Wales. He was said to be both an abbot and a bishop. He spent many years at Llanbadarn Fawr. From there, he taught Christianity to the nearby areas.

More stories about Padarn are in the Vita Sancti Paternus. This book tells many supposed details of his life. He might have been linked to Roman-British culture. His churches seem to be connected by Roman roads. Llanbadarn Fawr is near where the Roman road, Sarn Helen, crosses the River Rheidol.

Tradition says Padarn led his church for 21 years. During this time, he built many churches and monasteries. He also set up groups of monks from Llanbadarn Fawr. He preached all over west Wales. After this, he might have gone back to Brittany. He was possibly buried on Bardsey Island. But we can't be sure about any of these details.

Stories from Padarn's Life

The old book about Padarn says his parents were from Brittany. It says he sailed to Britain with 847 monks. He built monasteries and churches across Ceredigion.

One story tells how Maelgwn, a king, tried to harm Padarn. But a miracle happened, and the king had to give Padarn land. Padarn is also linked to Saint David and Saint Teilo. They supposedly went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There, Padarn received a special tunic and a staff. These stories are likely made up from different tales.

The most famous story is about King Arthur. King Arthur tried to steal Padarn's tunic. When Padarn refused, Arthur got angry. Padarn then called on the earth to swallow Arthur. Arthur had to beg for forgiveness to be released. This story might come from another Padarn, Padarn Beisrudd, who had a famous coat. This story is important because it links Saint Padarn to the legendary King Arthur.

The Life also says Padarn went to France and died there. But his body was brought back to Vannes. A final chapter says Padarn, David, and Teilo divided south Wales into three church areas. Padarn became bishop of Ceredigion.

The Life is hard to follow and not very factual. The writer probably used known stories and traditions. For example, there was a holy relic at Llanbadarn in the 1100s. It was believed to be Padarn's staff, Cyrwen. This might be why the place Llangorwen is named that way. The writer knew little about Padarn. But he saw him as living at the same time as David and Teilo.

We don't know much about Padarn's life. If he had died at Llanbadarn, there would likely be a special shrine. But none are recorded. So, he was probably a missionary who traveled a lot. He spent enough time in the Rheidol valley to start a strong Christian community. His followers might have later built churches named after him in mid-Wales and Ceredigion.

The Church's Importance Grows

The clas church remained important after 601. Some records say the Llanbadarn area was attacked in 720. This might have led to the loss of its bishop. But this is not certain. Another tradition says the church lost its bishop because the locals killed him. This happened after a fight with a local leader. The date of this event is unclear.

What we know for sure is that if there was a bishop of Llanbadarn in 601, there wasn't one in later years. But this didn't stop the clas at Llanbadarn Fawr from being powerful. By the mid-800s, it was the richest in the area. Asser, a famous scholar and advisor to King Alfred the Great, might have studied there. This shows Llanbadarn was known for its learning.

Sulien and His Family's Influence

Records become clearer by the 900s. Europe was often violent then, including Wales. In the 900s and 1000s, Vikings often raided the Welsh coasts. In 987/988, the clas was destroyed by the Danes. In 1038, the church was burned down by Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. But the clas still survived.

During this time, the Llanbadarn community was led by Sulien (1011–91) and his family. Around 1055, Sulien returned to Llanbadarn Fawr. He had studied for five years in Scotland and ten years in Ireland. After this, Llanbadarn Fawr became a top learning place in Wales. Sulien was known as Sulien the Wise. He became the abbot of Llanbadarn Fawr. He also served as Bishop of St David's twice. Under him, Llanbadarn Fawr's monastic library grew huge. It was said to be larger than those at Canterbury Cathedral and York Minster.

Sulien himself took shelter at Llanbadarn Fawr from Vikings. Many bishops were killed by raiders during this time.

Sulien, his sons, and grandsons made Llanbadarn Fawr an important scriptorium. This was a place where texts were written and copied. Rhygyfarch, Sulien's oldest son, wrote the Life of St David around 1081–1090. This book helped restore the damaged church. Rhygyfarch and his brother Ieuan were great Latin poets. Ieuan also copied manuscripts and wrote poetry.

The Ricemarch Psalter, made in Llanbadarn around 1079, is one of only two surviving manuscripts from Wales in the 1000s.

By the late 1000s, the church in Wales started to be influenced by the Normans. But Llanbadarn Fawr was still very Welsh. It was an early Welsh clas, with family members taking over leadership. The Church in Wales slowly came under the control of Canterbury and Rome.

Llanbadarn and the Normans

The Normans arrived in Ceredigion around 1073–1074. From the early 1100s, Norman influence grew. In 1106, Ithel and Madoc attacked Cardigan, but spared Llanbadarn Fawr and Llanddewi Brefi. However, they attacked Llanbadarn Fawr's sanctuary. They dragged out and killed several men who had taken refuge there. By this time, the clas had lost some spiritual importance. But it was still rich from its large lands.

In 1110, King Henry I took Cardigan from Owain ap Cadwgan. He then gave the land to Gilbert fitz Richard. Gilbert built many castles in the area. The Normans brought new ideas and practices to Wales, especially for the church.

The Short Time as a Benedictine Priory

Between 1111 and 1117, Gilbert fitz Richard gave the old clas church to St Peter's Abbey in Gloucester. It became a small priory for Benedictine monks. This might have been when the first stone church was built here. A new tower and porch were added. We don't know if the Celtic monks were kicked out or joined the new monks.

The Benedictine monks stayed for only about 20 years. Llanbadarn was a simple priory, dependent on Gloucester Abbey. The leader was called a "prior." Benedictine monks were not allowed to own things. They focused on copying sacred texts. So, they likely created a scriptorium here.

But Benedictine life at Llanbadarn Fawr didn't last long. Welsh princes drove out the Normans after a victory in 1136. The English monks were forced to leave. It seems the Celtic monks returned to their old clas.

The Clas Returns and Changes

The church seems to have become a clas again, or a college of secular priests, before 1144. But the best days of the clas churches were over. Gloucester Abbey tried to get the church back in 1175 and 1251. They even asked the Pope, but it didn't work.

In 1137, records mention the death of John (Ieuan), an archpriest of Llanbadarn. He was likely Ieuan ap Sulien, from Sulien's important family. In the 1100s, clas churches were led by an abod with priests under an "archpresbyter."

In 1146, Sulien ab Rhygyfarch died. He was described as "a man of great knowledge, and one of the college of Llanbadarn." After the link with Gloucester was lost, the church was again controlled by a lay abbot. This meant the abbot was not necessarily a monk.

But things were not perfect. In 1188, Gerald of Wales visited Llanbadarn Fawr. He was with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Gerald wrote about the college of secular canons under a lay abbot. He didn't describe them in a very nice way. He called the abbot "a certain old man, waxen old in iniquity." Gerald was a reformer. He didn't like married clergy or church jobs being passed down in families. But much of what he wrote was based on what he heard.

The Decline of the Clas or College

The Normans briefly returned in the 1160s. They started building the Cistercian abbey at Strata Florida. This abbey became very popular in Wales. Llanbadarn Fawr lost its place as a main centre of Welsh culture. The monks at Strata Florida took over writing the Chronicle of the Princes.

Welsh rule was interrupted in 1211. But Llywelyn the Great soon regained control. This lasted until Welsh power fell in 1246. Between 1231 and 1247, the church was shared between Gloucester Abbey and St David's Cathedral. But by 1251, it belonged to the Crown.

King Henry III took control of the church's right to appoint priests. This was to help pay for building the new church. The church was now led by a rector. Any remaining clas priests were likely removed.

The new church building was large but plain. The church's importance slowly declined. Community life probably ended when King Henry III appointed a rector in 1246. Some think there were chantry chapels, which would mean more than one priest.

The church was said to be rebuilt after a fire around 1257–1265. It's unclear if this was a full rebuild or finishing work started after 1246. The fire might have happened in 1256. That's when Llywelyn ap Gruffudd took Llanbadarn Fawr from Norman control. The building was so big that it likely took many years to build.

The rectors were usually royal favorites or rising church leaders. They rarely visited the church. One famous rector was Antony Bek (1277–1284). He became a bishop and was known more as a warrior than for his religious devotion.

Llanbadarn Fawr was a gathering point for English forces in 1287. By this time, the rector was almost always absent. The church was rich because it owned a lot of land.

The first record of a baptism here was in 1286. The old 12th-century font was likely used.

The Later Middle Ages and End of Community Life

The college of priests disappeared sometime before 1361–1362. It might have ended as early as 1246 or even 1212.

In 1346, the rector William Kilsby died. King Edward III gave the right to appoint the next rector to his son, the Black Prince. One of his appointments was Thomas Bradwardine. He later became Archbishop of Canterbury. Bradwardine was rector of Llanbadarn Fawr from 1347–1349.

The parish continued to be a job for the rector that didn't require much work. A resident vicar did the actual work. Bradwardine was also a dean and the King's chaplain. He probably never visited Llanbadarn Fawr.

Because the church was still rich, most rectors were well-connected. Some, like Bradwardine, had great careers. Others were less respected. One rector, Robert de Stretton, was nominated Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield in 1359. But the Archbishop of Canterbury opposed him. He claimed Stretton couldn't read or write. This might have been a political attack.

Tradition says Dafydd ap Gwilym, a great Welsh poet, was born nearby in the 1300s. He mentioned local places in his poems. He is also linked to Strata Florida Abbey.

In 1359, the Black Prince gave the right to appoint the rector to four people. They then gave the church to the Cistercian Vale Royal Abbey in Chester in 1360. The church, with its smaller chapels, became part of another religious house. From then until 1538, the abbot of Vale Royal was the main rector. A vicar managed Llanbadarn Fawr.

This timing was good for Vale Royal Abbey. A storm in 1360 damaged their abbey church. They needed money for repairs. The transfer of Llanbadarn Fawr helped fund these repairs. As the main rector, Vale Royal Abbey appointed the vicar. They were also responsible for the chancel. The parish had to maintain the rest of the church.

The change in control caused arguments. Both Vale Royal Abbey and St Peter's Abbey, Gloucester, claimed the church. Vale Royal Abbey eventually won. The Crown and Strata Florida Abbey also challenged control later. Vale Royal found it hard to manage the church. The local people were sometimes difficult.

Chancel Extension by Vale Royal Abbey

Even though it was controlled by Vale Royal Abbey, Llanbadarn Fawr church remained important. The building was greatly extended in 1475. A large new sanctuary was built. There was also a Rood screen and loft. It had a carved image of Christ crucified with Mary and St John. This is now gone. But you can still see the steps to the loft on the north side of the chancel.

The long history of monks and priests living together at the clas, priory, and college finally ended. But, as Nora K. Chadwick noted, "clerics of Llanbadarn seem to have retained their vitality and intellectual activity down to the fifteenth century." In 1508, a visit to Vale Royal Abbey mentioned Llanbadarn Fawr. This shows the church was still important in the early 1500s.

After King Henry VIII closed the monasteries (1536–41), St Padarn's Church became independent. It was now only a parish church, not a religious community. The church remained important because its parish was huge (over 240 square miles). However, the church lost its right to collect tithes and its land ownership.

Loss of Church Assets

The right to collect tithes (church taxes) and own land went to private owners. By 1660, the tithes belonged to Roger Palmer. His wife was the mistress of King Charles II. The tithes eventually passed to his nephew and then to the Chichester family. They were Catholics and had to pay high taxes. The income was lost to the church.

Collecting tithes was hard. Fishermen and farmers didn't like paying in goods. These goods (fish, corn) were hard to collect and sell. Agents often cheated the owners. In 1727, Catherine Chichester traveled to Cardiganshire to claim her rights. She stayed through winter. She had to do it again in 1730. Her efforts were met with refusals and lies. She died in the county in 1734. Her slate memorial is still in Llanbadarn church.

Later Life as a Parish Church

Even after the old communities left, the church remained an important place for education and culture. William Morgan was vicar of Llanbadarn Fawr from 1572–1575. He was the first person to translate the Bible into Welsh in 1588.

The mediaeval parish of Llanbadarn was so big that many people couldn't travel for Sunday worship. So, smaller churches acted as chapels of ease. Later, these churches became separate parishes. Churches like Llanbadarn, with many smaller churches around them, are called mam-eglwysi (mother churches). There were no parishes in Wales before the Normans arrived.

Over time, the original parish of Llanbadarn Fawr was divided into about 17 new parishes. These had 20 churches.

During this time, the church at Llanbadarn Fawr slowly declined. Aberystwyth grew much larger. More chapels became independent churches. By the mid-1800s, the church building was in bad shape. It needed serious repairs. This work changed much of the church's interior. Today, most of what you see inside is from the 1800s. Only the church's structure and some older monuments remain.

By the early 1900s, the church had little left from its early history or wealth. It was plainly decorated. It had no old fittings or treasures.

The Church Today

In 2014, the church had £100,000 worth of repairs. This included a new heating system and replastering.

The church is now part of "Peaceful Places." This is a heritage tourism trail. It tells the stories of churches and chapels in North Ceredigion.

Organ

The church has a pipe organ from 1885. It was made by Forster and Andrews. You can find details about it on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Architecture of the Church

We have no signs of the original clas church building. Most buildings in the 500s were made of wood and mud. Even churches were wooden. Stone was rarely used in Wales until the 1100s. Early churches were small and simple. They were often under 40 feet long.

Even though the early church at Llanbadarn Fawr was successful, it probably didn't have big stone buildings. The clas church kept its Celtic style for many years. The church was badly damaged by the Danes in 988 and again in 1038.

Parts of an older building might be in the current church. But this is unlikely. Stone churches in Wales usually date from the 1100s or later. The earlier buildings were probably wooden. A new tower and porch were built around 1115. Much evidence from before the 1200s was lost during later repairs.

The current church looks very old. It is large and shaped like a cross. It has an early Gothic door. It was probably built after the Norman Conquest, perhaps after 1246. The oldest stone parts are from the 1200s. These are in the tower and its supporting arches. The church looks big and old from the outside. Its thick walls suggest Norman style. But its pointed windows show it's early Gothic, from the early 1200s. Inside, the church is shaped like a cross with large transepts. It was rebuilt after a fire in the 1200s. The chancel was extended in the 1400s. After that, the church looked much as it does today.

Outside the Church

The church has slate roofs and pointed gables. The roofs have patterns made of fishscale slates. The walls are large and plain. There is a 19th-century south porch. There are two transepts and a chancel. A 19th-century north choir vestry was added. The pipes on the south side of the nave are dated 1884.

The tower has many holes from its building. It stands on four huge columns. On top is a 19th-century low, octagonal spire with slate tiles and a weathercock. The tower has 19th-century bell-lights and a corbelled battlement. It holds a fine set of bells. The oldest bells are from 1749. Two more were added in 1886. Two more were added in 2000 for the new millennium. The tower is a noticeable sight in Aberystwyth. It also has a clock on its south side from 1859.

The church is about 163 feet long.

Inside the Chancel

The inside of the church has a chancel, nave, transepts, and south porch. It is made of rough materials, now mostly plastered and whitewashed.

The large chancel was restored around 1475. It was extended, and new red sandstone windows were added. These windows now have 19th-century designs and stained glass.

An old inscription in the east window of the south wall might be for William Stratford. It has his name and a coat of arms. Below this window is a mediaeval piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels). Another inscription, possibly from the late 1400s, is for Thomas ap Dafydd and his wife Angharad. The large five-light east window is also made of red stone. It has 19th-century Gothic designs.

The chancel has a fancy wooden ceiling. It has carved bosses and angels. This ceiling was put in between 1882–84.

This ceiling hides the original 15th-century ceiling. The original ceiling was boarded in 1491 by William Stratford, Abbot of Vale Royal Abbey. The timbers show the exact date.

The entrance to the chancel has red marble steps and mosaic tiles. The main chancel floor is black marble. In the sanctuary, there are more marble steps and pink marble paving.

There are three small doors on the north wall of the chancel. One is at the bottom of the old rood loft stair. This stair goes up inside the wall to a second door. This upper door would have led to the rood loft. The two doors are slightly different styles. The lower door might be early Tudor. The upper door is a four-centred arch, possibly late Gothic.

The third door leads to the small north priests' vestry. Its age is uncertain. This vestry leads to the later 19th-century choir sacristy or vestry.

Opposite these doors, on the south wall, is a plain priest's door. It has cut stone and wrought iron hinges.

The 1880s high altar has a beautiful reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar). It is made of red sandstone and white marble. There are white marble panels with a cross and flowers. Above are three white marble panels with "Laus Deo" ("Praise be to God") and "Gloria in excelsis Deo" ("Glory to God in the highest").

Wooden altar rails protect the sanctuary. The wooden altar also has carved panels.

There were likely choir stalls at the west end of the chancel. Some pews by Seddon remain here. Today, the choir sits in the crossing.

The Crossing Area

The crossing has a red marble step. It has a complex oak roof with heavy beams and carved bosses. The massive arches supporting the tower are from the early 1200s.

The stalls and pews in the crossing are similar to those in the nave. But they are more ornate.

The organ is at the entrance to the south transept. It was made by Forster and Andrews in 1885. It was a gift from Sir Pryse Pryse. The organ has a pine case and painted pipes.

The South Transept (St Padarn's Chapel and Exhibition)

The transepts have wooden ceilings. Each transept has pointed tomb recesses in the end wall.

The south transept is now a museum and chapel of St Padarn. It was built between 1985–1988. It shows the rich history of the area. There are displays on St Padarn and local people like William Morgan. A copy of Morgan's Bible is displayed. Another display tells about Sulien's life. There are three niches that might have held statues of priests.

A pine screen with etched glass leads to the new rooms. The screen has lines from the poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym. He wrote his famous poem "The Girls of Llanbadarn" about the church. There is a ceramic coat of arms on the screen.

The church has two old carved stone crosses. Since 1987, they have been in the south transept. One cross is short and squat. It has a crude human figure. It might be from the late 900s.

The second cross is tall and slender. It has figures carved in traditional Welsh style. One figure looks like a saint. The Cross of St Padarn is made of granophyre. It has Celtic patterns. It is dated between the 800s and 1000s. It shows skilled carving.

In the middle room of the transept, there is a low slate altar stone. It has a red Chi-Ro symbol. A Chi-ro is an early Christian symbol. There is also a rough Cornish granite seat. The floor has white glazed tiles with a red border. In the south wall, above the stone crosses, are windows from the 1920s/1930s. They show Saints Padarn, Dewi, and Teilo. The Padarn window shows St Padarn holding a staff and chalice.

The staff in the window is probably Curwen. This staff was highly respected. It was said to be given to Padarn by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Padarn's crozier became Llanbadarn's most important relic.

There are small rooms on either side of the central chapel. The chapel of St Padarn is on the left. It has a slate slab floor. A window in the entrance shows scenes from the Life of Padarn. It includes Teilo, Padarn, and Dewi. In the chapel, there is a porcelain relief sculpture. It shows a story from the Life, the ordeal by boiling water.

To the right of the central room are two small exhibition rooms. The first is Sulien's room. It has a slate floor slab and text from Rhygyfarch's Elegy.

The larger room has historical exhibits. It includes the Burma Star window (1985). This window has the Kohima Epitaph. It remembers those who fought in the Battle of Kohima in 1944. It also honors Major-General Lewis Pugh.

The North Transept (Lady Chapel)

The north transept is now the Lady Chapel. It has two recesses. The larger one now holds a picture of St Padarn. A small niche stores a service book. A statue of the Virgin and Child was given in memory of parents.

The north transept fittings are from 1936. They include a carved reredos, altar, and rails. There is a small Orthodox icon of the Theotokos, or Virgin and Child.

The Lady Chapel floor has quarry tiles. A brass plaque on the floor remembers "J J" from 1822.

The Nave

The nave has no aisles. It was once called Capel Hir (Long Chapel). The pews are made of pine. The stonework on the nave's south wall is mostly from the 1800s.

The nave roof becomes more detailed towards the chancel. It has bosses and carved wall plates.

The old font by the west door is from the 1100s. It has an arcaded basin. It is made of Purbeck marble. This is unusual for Wales. The font was repaired and moved in the 1800s. The font cover is from the 1800s.

The pulpit is from 1879. It was given by the Bishop of St David's in memory of his mother. It is made of stone. It has carved reliefs of Saints John and Paul. Opposite the pulpit is a brass eagle lectern. Both are in the archway between the crossing and nave.

The nave and transept lights are from the 1960s.

The Porch and Archway

The inner porch in the nave is made of oak. It was built in the 1960s.

The west door, on the south side of the church, is an elegant Gothic pointed arch. It is traditionally said to have come from Strata Florida Abbey. But this is uncertain. It is very ornate.

The 19th-century porch has a big stone arch. It has a wooden roof and stone benches. There are three steps up to the oak double doors.

Monuments in the Church

Many monuments from the 1600s and 1700s survive. They are mainly in the chancel. They include monuments for important landowning families. A white marble tablet from 1666 is for Colonel John Jones. Some monuments are very large.

The central aisle and cross aisles have a beautiful mosaic floor. It has kneeling priests in Minton tiles.

The Windows

Almost every window in the church has colored glass. Most are narrow single lancets. Some might be mediaeval.

The east window is a memorial to Mrs Rosa Edwyna Powell (died 1860) and her daughter. It shows the Transfiguration of Jesus. It was designed in the 1880s. Other stained glass windows were added by parishioners in 1894. They remember the Reverend John Pugh.

The last window with plain glass got stained glass in the late 1900s. It was commissioned by Professor Ian Parrott. The window shows "Music in Praise of the Lord."

19th-Century Restoration Work

In 1810, the church still had fine mediaeval screens. They were probably lost during repairs in 1813–16. They were gone by 1862. These screens were made of oak.

By the mid-1800s, the church was in poor condition. The walls were leaning, and the roofs were decaying. Restoration work began in 1867–84. It was led by John Pollard Seddon. The church was greatly restored for £8,500. The roof was renewed, except for the chancel's wagon roof. The nave was rebuilt, and the chancel was paved. The north and south transepts were also rebuilt.

Seddon thought the church had once been more elaborate. He wanted to add a matching arch and a more complex spire. But the bishop opposed this. Seddon also wanted to replace all the roofs. This was done, except the 15th-century chancel roof was kept.

The nave was in the worst condition. Its walls were largely rebuilt in 1868–9. The font was restored then. Traces of painted decoration were found in the nave. This included a huge St Christopher on the north wall. Sadly, these paintings could not be saved.

The tower and transepts were restored in 1878–80. A short spire was added. The pulpit is from this time. William Morris asked for a less harsh restoration. But much had already been destroyed.

The chancel was restored from 1880–1884. The chancel glass was designed by Seddon.

Further repairs were done in 1935–1936 and in 1960. The museum and St Padarn's chapel are the most recent works.

Listing of the Building

The church has been a Grade I listed building since 1964. It is listed because it is the most important mediaeval church in the region. It has outstanding monuments and fine 19th-century fittings and stained glass.

Churchyard

The churchyard covers about two acres. Most of the headstones are from the 1800s. The churchyard is now closed to new burials. It has some old monuments. The churchyard and church are surrounded by an oval shape of trees. This was a typical sign of an early Celtic church. There might also be remains of an old pond for keeping fish. There are no visible signs of old monastic buildings.

Lewis Pugh Evans

Brigadier-General Lewis Pugh Evans is buried in the churchyard. He was a hero from World War I. He received the Victoria Cross. His grave has a simple slate headstone.

Evans was awarded the Victoria Cross on October 4, 1917. He led his battalion through heavy enemy fire. He personally attacked a machine gun nest. He was wounded twice but kept leading his men. He refused help and made it to the dressing station on his own. His bravery inspired everyone.

Evans was mentioned in official reports seven times. He also received other awards. He was a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant for Ceredigion.

His Victoria Cross is on display at the Imperial War Museum in London. A memorial plaque for him is near the village war memorial.

Other Buildings Near the Church

A small building at the end of the north transept holds the heating system.

Churchyard Gates

The churchyard gate to the southwest is a Grade II listed building (2002). The church has its own postcode, and so do the gates.

The lychgate to the southeast is also a Grade II listed building (2002). It is a stone lychgate with arched entries and iron gates. It dates from 1814.

The Church Hall

There is a modern church hall just outside the church grounds. It was restored in 2000.

Gallery

• 

  South transept central room, showing position of standing crosses, and entrance to Sulien Room.

• 

  The central room of the museum in the south transept. It shows the altar stone, kneeling desk, and niches.

• 

  Chapel of St Padarn.

• 

  Lady Chapel, showing the reredos.

• 

  The Lady Chapel from the crossing.

• 

  Nave, south wall.

• 

  12th-century Purbeck marble font.

• 

  Inscribed brass plaque on the east side of the pulpit. It remembers Jane Jones.

• 

  The porch and entrance around 1860. It shows a priest baptizing someone at the font.

• 

  The porch, showing the outer 19th-century arch and the inner ancient arch.

• 

  Porch east wall.

• 

  19th-century etchings of the lost interior woodwork.

• 

  One of the crosses in Llanbadarn Fawr, in the churchyard before 1916.

• 

  The north side of the church from the churchyard.

• 

  A view from the northwest, showing part of the churchyard.

• 

  Lewis Pugh Evans, VC.

• 

  A photo showing the southwest gate.