Clynnog, Llanrhychwyn, Langienwen - Arthur Pendragon of Wales

88 Three Old Fonndations.
building.
The possibilities are great witb a modicum of
patience and diligence.
Church of Ceinwen.
Great is the contrast between the above two and the
church of Llan Ceinwen. Llan Ehychwyn's atmosphere
is simplicity, primitive, and native. Every stone of
breathes forth the word ecclesiastical. In Llan
Clynnog
Ceinwen it is far different, for the present building was
only erected in 1812^ on the old foundation, and its tower
was added in 1838-9.^ Inside, with the exception of its
font, was nought to be found but what is generally termed
" Chui'chwardens' restoration ". It possessed before its
what was called a ' '
present reparation
' '
three decker
there are now only two left in Bangor diocese. It will be
remembered that during the eighteenth and early nine-
teenth century it was quite
,—
fashionable to have such
erections in churches. On the ground level was a desk for
the clerk, above this was the reading-desk for the clergyman,
and still higher was the pulpit where the sermon
was delivered. In the case of Llan Ceinwen this was
most unfortunate owing ,
to the low roof for the preacher,
more especially if he happened to be tall, had his head
literally in the roof. All this has been changed, and the
church has been refurnished throughout in oak. We ex-
cepted the font, which is extremely
early thirteenth-century worlmianship
beautiful. It is of
and there is no
other instance of similar design in the neighbourhood. It
bears a marked resemblance to some of the earlier carving
at Yalle Crucis Abbey,
which was not commenced till
about 1200.^ The font at Llan Ehychwyn apparently is
^ A History of the Island of Mona, An^hararl Llwyd (1833), p. 275.
2 From a tablet in the chnrch.
3
Archceologia Cambrensis, voI. lxxii, part i Seventh ;
Series, vo]. ii,
p. 76.