St Cadfan's Church (Tywyn) | |
Coordinates: | 52.588°N -4.0853°W |
Location: | Tywyn, Gwynedd |
Country: | Wales |
Denomination: | Anglican (Church in Wales) |
Previous Denomination: | Catholic Church (ended mid-16th century) |
Parish: | Tywyn |
Deanery: | Ystumaner |
Archdeaconry: | Meirionnydd |
Diocese: | Diocese of Bangor |
Province: | Wales |
Founder: | Saint Cadfan |
Architect: | Medieval masons |
Style: | Romanesque Architecture |
St Cadfan's Church (Welsh: Eglwys Cadfan) is situated in Tywyn in the county of Gwynedd, formerly Merionethshire, Wales.
The church is noted for its Romanesque architecture and for housing the Cadfan Stone, a stone cross dating from ninth century or earlier which is inscribed with the oldest known written Welsh.
Brut y Tywysogion states that the church was sacked by Vikings in 963, and during the twelfth century it was the subject of a memorable poem by Llywelyn Fardd (I). The earliest parts of the building date to the twelfth century, and it originally had a central tower, although this fell down in 1693.[1]
The church houses two fourteenth-century monuments. One of the effigies is of an unknown priest in full Eucharistic vestments. The other is a military figure thought to be Gruffudd ab Adda (d. c. 1350) of Dôl-goch and Ynysymaengwyn. The effigy is known as the 'Crying Knight' due to a flaw in the stone at his right eye which becomes damp during wet weather, giving the impression of weeping.[2]
The vicarage, which was built in the early 19th century, still stands on National Street. It is now a private house called 'Tŷ Cadfan Sant'. National Street (formerly Duck Street) was named after the National School, later Towyn Church School, which was once located on the street.