St Cynllo’s Church, Llanbister

St Cynllo’s Church in Llanbister seen from the north with the rolling landscape in the background

St Cynllo was a British saint in the late 5th and early 6th centuries and several churches in Wales are dedicated to him. An old Welsh poem includes the line: “The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain.” Cynlo may have been a local ruler before dedicating his life to God.

St Cynllo set up the first church in the village of Llanbister in the 6th C, but the present church heralds from around 1300, when the nave was constructed. The chancel and tower are more recent, from the 16th or possibly 15th C. St Cynllo’s church is situated on a very steep side, which inspired the builders to create an attractive and unusual composition with a massive east tower. And the church is very low, following the landscape and with a mixture of Gothic styles. it was as challenging as attractive to photograph.

The east side dominates by the massive lowlying tower
The south side of the church
The two south-facing doorways are from around 1300
The nave is from around 1300, but the roof was rebuilt in 1908, although following the design of the original roof
The chancel with part of the beautiful rood screen visible
The piscina was founded at a nearby site and is from no later than 1250. It is now displayed in the church
The church is situated on a steep incline. The image is captured from southwest

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