St Gwynno's Church Llanwynno

St Gwynno the Saint

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 dose not say whether the land belongs to Gwynno the Saint or the church or the poor of the parish.

Glanffrwd

William (or Gwilym) Thomas was born March 17th 1843, in a small cottage in old Ynysybwl.

Even at a very early age, Glanffrwd had shown a leaning for things literary, for he won the recitation at an eisteddfod in the Ynysybwl village inn while just in his teans; at the age of 17 he shared a prize with Islwyn at Aberdare (1860). During the next few years he added to his laurels by winning chairs, medals and money at eisteddfodau up and down the country. In 1887, at the London National Eisteddfod, he took the honors for the Pryddest. Apart from the competitions, Glanffrwd took great interest in local history, archaeology and music, and in addition was a speaker of renown in English and Welsh. He proved to be a very good teacher and later accepted a post at an “Ysgol Gwaith” in Llwynypia. Here he developed into an able and popular speaker, taking an active interest in social welfare. His eloquence brought him to the notice of influential people, who encouraged him to go in for ministry.

After a short term of training he became pastor of Gyfeillon Chapel near Pontypridd. In 1871 he left Gyfeillon for Oxford to prepare himself for the Church of England. Twelve months later he left Oxford and ministered in England and Ireland. He later came back to Wales and became the second vicar the Cathedral of St Asaph and later became first vicar and choirmaster.

During the National Eisteddfod in Brecon in 1890, which he attended as one of the conductors, he had a stroke and collapsed on the platform, from where he was rushed to his brother’s house at Pontypridd where he died October 2nd 1890. Glanffrwd passed away and is buried in the little graveyard St Gwynno’s of his beloved Llanwynno.

                                Guto Nyth Bran Gravestone St. Gwynno's Church

Guto Nyth Bran

In the churchyard this is a grave stone to Guto Nyth Bran the famous runner. It was told that he had run with hounds of Llanwynno and chased a fox to Cardiganshire where the hounds and Guto collapsed in exhaustion.

The place where they finished this chase was a place called is Llanwrtyd Wells which was the old part of Cardiganshire. (The distance between Llanwynno and Llanwrtyd Wells is a distance of 55 miles).

In 1980 Mr. Gordon Green the landlord of The Neuadd Arms over heard two old men talking about Guto’s exploits of long ago. In 1982 he organized an annual event to mark this amazing feat: the event is still running up to the present day.

Later he ran several races with the man’s horse, which had lost him much money through having been by another gentleman’s horse. The result was that Guto ran against this man’s horse and beat him, winning back all the money, which had been lost.
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He also raced against a horse, which belonged to a Captain who was stationed with his troops in Hirwaun. The race was over 4 miles which Guto won with great ease the prize money was £500.
His last big race was from St Woolos Church Newport to St Barrwg’s Church Bedwas near Caerphilly, which was around twelve miles. He ran against a horse called prince he won the race in 53 minutes beating the horse. A friend of his went to congratulate Guto and tapped on his back, which he then collapsed and died at the age of 37.
The Nos Glan race from Mountain Ash to Llanwynno is an annual celebration of this incredible athlete.

 
Folklore

In the sixteenth century a 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 rumored 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 and over the Merthyr. They found them with the bell in a place they called Rhyd-y-Car (the Ford of the Sledge).

Holy Wells

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.

There is forgotten curable well called “Illtud’s Well” which is Craig Buarthcapel in Llanwynno, where a father took his son to the well to bathe the ankle the boy who was William Thomas who later became known as “Glanffrwd”.