History
Beginnings of the church of St. Celynnin in Llangelynnin dates back to the twelfth or thirteenth century, when probably today’s nave was erected. In the fifteenth centuries, the church was gradually expanded, first the easter part, and then the northern chapel called Capel Meibion (Chapel of Men). It was created so that men could participate in mass in a place separated from women, or because of the desire to separate alien visitors or sick people. In the 16th century, after the Reformation, a southern chapel was also built, but it was pulled down at the beginning of the 19th century. Around 1700, the roof of the church was replaced, while the church underwent a major renovation in 1932 and 1987
Architecture
Originally, the church consisted of a short rectangular aisleless nave. Probably in the fifteenth century, a chancel was added, but it was not distinguished from the outside of the nave, but only the church was extended on the eastern side and covered with a common gable roof. In the 15th century, a northern four-sided chapel measuring 5 x 5.7 meters was also added, and a century later a slightly smaller southern chapel, 3.6 x 3.2 meters in size. In the 16th century, a porch was also erected at the western part of the southern wall, at the entrance to the nave, with an infrequently found opening in the wall for viewing the interior (squint window) and seats in the interior on the sides. In the eastern wall, in the 16th century the window was replaced with a large, three-light opening with traceries topped with trefoils.
Current state
Picturesquely situated among fields and moors, the church has largely retained its medieval appearance, only the southern chapel has not survived, and the eastern part of the southern wall was reconstructed after its demolition at the beginning of the 19th century. Only the window on the eastern side of the nave has form from the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century, and the eastern and northern windows of the chapel are from the 15th-century. The southern portal is original, and the late-medieval roof truss is also preserved inside the northern chapel.
bibliography:
Salter M., The old parish churches of North Wales, Malvern 1993.
The Royal Commission on The Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions in Wales and Monmouthshire. An Inventory of the Ancient and Historical Monuments in Caernarvonshire, volume I: east, the Cantref of Arllechwedd and the Commote of Creuddyn, London 1956.
Wooding J., Yates N., A Guide to the churches and chapels of Wales, Cardiff 2011.