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Llanfyrnach OS ref. Church SN 220312 |
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| The first church on the present site was probably founded in the
12th Century, when the 'Ecclesia Sancti Bernachi de Blaentaf in Kemey's' was, with 100
acres of agricultural land, given to the Knights hospitalers of St John of Jerusalem by
Stephen, Constable of Cardigan castle and son in law to Rhys ap Tewdwr. His son, Robert,
appropriated the living to the Commandery of Slebech, which in the Texatio of 1291 was
valued at £6. 13s. 4d. At the farm of Rhyd y Gāth, OS ref. SN 215312, there used to be two standing stones, one of the 5th or early 6th centuries, which bore the legend 'TAVUS', now lost, and one incised with a Latin ring cross of 7th-9th century date. The remaining stone stands beside the lane at the entrance to the farm. Just over two miles down the road at Glandwr, OS ref. SN 191285, inside the gate of a fine Baptist chapel founded in 1712, stands another stone dedicated in Ogham script to EFFESSANGUS ASEGNUS. It belongs to the 5th or early 6th century and was later super-inscribed with a Latin wheel cross with a tripod base of the 7th to 9th Centuries. It is not uncommon for stones in this part of Pembrokeshire to be re-used in this way and other 5th to early 6th century gravestones with Ogham and Latin dedications have been found in north east Pembrokeshire, some of which were later super-inscribed with a Maltese style ring cross of Irish type. |
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