St Maelog's Church, Llandyfaelog Fach, Breconshire

Description

Denomination: Anglican

Dedication: St Maelog

Built: 16th century with
Restored: 19th century

Photography: John Ball
Date: 19 February 2010
Camera: Nikon D50 digital SLR

Note 1: Dedicated to St Maelog the church occupies a bench on west side of River Honddu some 3 km to the north of Brecon. It is almost certainly an early medieval foundation, but apart from the 16th century tower the building is completely Victorian, though with an interesting range of contemporary fittings. Earlier features include a 10th/11th century stone, a 13th century font and a good group of 17th/18th century grave-slabs and memorials. A unique feature for Breconshire is a large mausoleum in the churchyard. Tower is considered 16th century though shows few diagnostic features. Rest of church is a 19th century rebuild. [Source: Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) website, where further details are available]

Note 2: The rebuildings of 1831 and 1856 have left only the pyramidal-roofed 16th century west tower containing a tablet of 1793, the 13th century font, the stoup (top right), several 16th and 17th century cross-slabs, and a larger 10th century cross-slab. [Source: The Old Parish Churches of Mid Wales, by Mike Salter, Folly Publications, Malvern, 2003; ISBN 1-871731-62-3]

Image 3:

A tragic family story etched on a headstone (transcription below)

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
FOUR
BELOVED CHILDREN OF
FREDERICK & MARGARET HOPKINS,
LATE OF SARNAU;
JANE, BORN MARCH 29,1878,
DIED AUGUST 5, 1887.
FLORENCE, BORN NOVEMBER 15, 1882,
DIED APRIL 26, 1889.
KATIE, BORN AUGUST 16, 1887,
DIED APRIL 30, 1889.
ANNIE, BORN JULY 2, 1880,
DIED APRIL 19, 1890.
ALSO OF THE SAID
FREDERICK HOPKINS,
BORN JULY 8, 1855,
DIED NOVEMBER 27, 1889
"NOT GONE FROM MEMORY, NOT GONE FROM LOVE,
BUT GONE TO OUR FATHER'S HOME ABOVE."
ALSO MARGARET, WIFE OF THE ABOVE
DIED 9 DEC 1926, AGED 71 YEARS.
THY WILL BE DONE

• http://www.jlb2011.co.uk/walespic/churches/llandyfaelog1.htm (link opens in new window)