ST TYSILIO'S LLANDYSILIO
St Tysilio's - Llandysilio and St David's - Clunderwen Church Services |
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Background history
The date of the foundation is unknown, but there is a reference to the church in 1291. Llandissilio was a preband of Abergwili, Carmarthen, in the Middle Ages and later Christ Church, Brecon, to which part of the tithe was payable. The church was restored in 1838 and virtually re-built in 1898. Under the Parliamentary Grants, known as Queen Anne?s Bounty, a farm in Mwnt (Cardiganshire) was bought to supplement parochial income. A further farm in Llanarth (Cardiganshire) was also bought in 1781 but was later re-sold.
On their visit in 1915 The Ancient Monuments Commissioners concluded that the chancel and its plain pointed arch were the only surviving structural parts of the earlier church. The present building consists of the nave, chancel with a piscine, north chapel to chancel, modern south porch (added in 1900) and a single bellcote to the west gable. The present font is modern but an earlier font, thought to have been of the late Norman period, is in the churchyard. The lychgate is also a modern replacement (1900). Within it are a few fragments of the older gate and a stone dated 1699.
The through route from Cardigan to Tenby has given modern Llandissilio the appearance of a linear village with the church a little to one side. However, examination of maps and footpaths shows that at one time the church and rounded churchyard formed a nodal point. One of the paths from the west approached across a ford and another across stepping-stones. It is still possible to see in the churchyard the sunken way along which travellers on these footpaths approached the church.
The 1840?s tithe schedule and map show 38 acres of parish glebe, but it seems likely that in an earlier period the glebe was more extensive and that much of the land around the church fell into that category. An interesting custom relating to Pencnwc Farm appears to bear this out. Until the middle of this century an annual sum of money has been paid to the church by the residents of Pencnwc and this payment was thought to be connected with old glebe land, now part of the farm.
During the 18th century, circulating schools organised by Griffith Jones, Llanddowror, were held on three occasions in the parish church: 1751-2 (23 pupils), 1754-5 (43 pupils) and in 1760-1 (50 pupils).