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October 2010


The Brecon Advertiser & DIARY


A history of St Gwendoline’s Church


IN regard to


place, St Gwendoline’s Church, Talgarth, like many Welsh churches may be more than 14 centuries old. The unusual dedication to Saint Gwendoline, daughter of Brychan, probably is derived from the age of the Celtic Saints. The size


St Gwendoline’s Talgarth Parish Church


church was fixed in the Middle Ages. The church plan may once have been cross-shaped with transepts on both sides ( the north transept


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been used until 1873 as a National School). At the end of the middle ages the second nave replaced the south transept. In those days the vicars of Talgarth were appointed by the Benedictine monks of Brecon Priory. During the removal of the organ in the incumbency of Dr. Gwyn Davies, there was discovered a large medieval tombstone carved with the cross as the tree of life. The registers start in 1695,


further details can be found on the Genuki site. St Gwendoline’s has a famous


remains today, having and shape of the continuity of connection with


Revival. Here in 1735, at Holy Communion Service, Howell Harris was converted. Here also William Williams Pantycelyn was converted by Harris preaching in the churchyard. Harris founded a community


the Methodist


called ‘The Family’, occupied in agriculture and rural industries at Trefeca in Talgarth parish. Also at Trefeca, in 1768, a college was founded by the Countess of Huntington to train Methodist preachers. Howell Harris died in 1773,


having stayed within the fold of the Established Church all his life. He was buried in front of the altar rails of Talgarth Church. St Gwendline’s was restored


and re-opened by the Bishop of Hereford on December 7, 1873. The main east window was given in memory of Colonel Francis Roche, of Tregunter, who died in 1897. The hatchment is a memorial to the Gwynnes of Trefeca Fawr. More recently the organ was moved to the north transept,


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making room for the sanctuary of the present Lady Chapel. Much of the woodwork in the Church including the reredos panelling behind the high altar was the work of a local craftsman, WD Griffiths. Stained glass, made by Celtic Studios, Swansea, was placed in the Lady Chapel during the ministry of the Rev Norman Lea. These windows are memorials of the Jones and Francis families. The six bells in the tower of


St Gwendoline’s Church were hung in 1724 and there have been 38 peals rung on the bells at Talgarth. In the time of Canon Tom Jones


were designed by George Pace, the distinguished architect who rebuilt Llandaff Cathedral after the war. In 1996-7,


restored with grants the electric light fittings


the church was re-roofed and a new church hall built. The


National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and CADW Welsh Historic Monuments.


church was from the


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