St Gwynno the Saint

St Gwynno was trained in Llantrisant "the church of the Three Saints" who was considered to be a patron in conjunction with St Illtyd and Tyfodwg. He was likewise the patron of Vaynor, formerly Maenor Wyno in Breconshire. The saint's holy well Ffynnon Wyno is near Llanwynno church.

Daerwynno is not far from the old church, Gwynno probably lived in this farmhouse and may have owned the land around, together with some part of Mynydd Gwyngul, which he left either to the church or the poor of the parish; but this, like other things, may have changed with time. Moreover, it is significant that the nearest farmhouse to the church has been ever since been known as ‘Daerwynno’- Gwynno’s Land. It does not say whether the land belongs to Gwynno the Saint or the church or the poor of the parish.

The Bell of St Gwynno’s

In the sixteenth century (or there about), tradition has it that the church bell, communion plate, linen altar cloth and the pulpit cushion were once stolen from the church. (Local people said that the bell was stolen). It was rumoured that the bell was taken down one night and hidden on a mountain near the source of the River Ffrwd, near there called Ffos y Gloch (the ditch of the Bell). It was left there until the thieves were able to move it again; the bell was buried in the peaty soil.

Later on they returned for the bell and dug it up and put it on a sledge (cas llusg), which they had brought with them. As they were crossing the Clydach near Cwm Clydach the sledge got unstable and the tongue of the bell started to clang. The noise of the bell clanging brought the thieves to justice.

The noise of the bell made such a noise the sole of the local people was the clanging of this bell. The parish policemen, set out after these criminals, they chased them through the Cwm up to Mountain Ash, past Cefn Pennar over the Merthyr Mountain to the valley of the Canaid. The place they caught them is called Rhyd-y-Car (the Ford of the Sledge. Rhyd-y-gloch – the Ford of the Bell is where the bell first rung on the sledge.

                                Guto Nyth Bran Gravestone St. Gwynno's Church

Modern Folklore

When they were filming the film Zulu the music you hear in the film was actually sung outside the Brynffynnon Public House in the car park with the choir.It is noted that there are 180 wells in the Glamorgan area and the most noted is the well at Penrhys, which is renowned for, is curable waters and its pilgrimages using the Cistercians Trail

Eisteddfods

1868/1869

At the Brynffynnon public house (Llanwynno)

The chairman (or conductor):  David Edwards from Gilfach-Glyd

Literary adjudicator: Meudwy Glan Elai

Music adjudicator: Mr Mills Pontypridd

In this eisteddfod Dafydd Morganwg won on the englyn “Y Gloch” The Bell.

An instrument musical prompt-is the bell.

To send its message along

Ding, ding come, it’s time to come

And thus she speaks in her own tongue

Dafydd Morganwg also won the best “englynion” to the Church of Gwynno.

Glanffrwd took the best treatise on “A Philosophical Analysis of the different name in the Parish of Llanwynno” it was the first time for him to be chaired. There were local eisteddfods held in the parish, in the time of Job Morgan and amongst other notable bards was David Williams (Alaw Coch).

The Rhymesters

There was a period in history of poetry that should have been called “the Period of the Tribanau”- short rhyming verses which became popular in Glamorgan. The Triban is a pretty, natural, fluent and poetical metre, and no doubt, the writers Tribanau in Glamorgan excelled at their work. From the days of James Twbril (Turberville) to the time of James Cefn Tylchau, it was the custom of the poets to express their emotions, everyday events, or personal and social incidents in verse form-Tribanau, the measure or metre was suited to the feelings and taste of the people. It was to them more than a literary craft; it was instinctive, and in the express their feelings, social customs, and descriptions of local events as naturally as breathing.

Meudwy Glan Elai

I have included one triban from Meudwy Glan Elai, not that he should be counted as one of the rhyming poets in any way,but because he moved in their circles and occasionally greeted them with triban. Meudwy was a poet of renown and a first-class bard, and although many of his works are left behind him, none has seen the light of day. He was born in Llantrisant parish, but spent most of his life in Llanwynno, where he his now sleeping.

On the grave has been placed a beautiful stone in memory of him and Ann, his wife, daughter of Rhys Phylip, or Rhys the Mill as he was usually called. Evan Richard, or Meudwy Glan Elai (Bardic Name) was a fine handsome man, with a strong and alert mind. He was tall, strong, sinewy, of firm build and very brisk in his manner.

There was no finer or better walker anywhere around. As was seen many times when he went out with Glog hounds over hill and dale well out of sight of Llanwynno. He sang many a sweet song to the Glog hounds or of some special hunt which had taken place in the parish. The only time that the Glog squire was known to cry was when Evan Richard wrote a poem to the hound, “Beauty’r Lan”

The poem  ‘Ffynon Bryn Hendre Rhys’ or ‘The Spring on the Hill of Hendre Rhys’ is also well known in the parish, and is considered to be excellent. It is a fine poem, and one of the sweetest in our language. Meudwy used to pass this spring night and morning, and he would sit near a corner on top of Coedcae Llysant, whence it gushed forth in a sweet, cold, crystal stream, this spot was immortalised in this poem of Meudwy’s.

He was full of wit and innocent fun, and many of his works are lively, playful and humorous, which never transgressed the bounds of bad taste. His eyes showed power and penetrating thought, and one could take him for a barrister of the first rank. There is no doubt that had he taken up that career he would have been foremost amongst the barristers. I remember reading a description of him by Rhydderch ap Morgan, I believe, on his return from Eisteddfod Y Wig, where he had been successful in winning a chair-beautiful cane chair. When Rhydderch saw him, he was sitting in the chair on a coach, decorated with a green leek, Ow! Ow! From the chair he went to the grave. He had been held in the respect by bards and his countrymen, and at his funeral a beautiful harp was hung on the willow tree in the cemetery. The sweet muse was still, but the time of his rest had come, may his sleep be sweet. 

Y MEUDWY

The Meudwy, although departed – silent now

Enjoys, in delightful muse,

In earth’s vile tomb

The heavens in his grasp.

Gwyno’s Prif-fardd showed – although he was

The Hermit of Ely

That his musing lit the mountain pass.

The valley’s cold pillow has received him.