Church of St Cadfan

In the village of Llangadfan to south of the Afon Banwy. The church stands a little east of centre in a churchyard surrounded by a wall in slatey stone; gate to west, steps down to field at south. Wood sundial post in churchyard.

A church of early origins, in a churchyard which was approximately circular until 1910; the present structure probably originates in the C14/15, but was extensively restored in 1867-8. The dedication is to St Cadfan, a Breton missionary of c.600. The church was noted as the capella de Llankaduan in 1254. Rectors are recorded from 1361.

The present structure retains a C14/15 roof with wide-cusped timbers (now concealed) and a poor or late Perpendicular east window, and a pre-Reformation water stoup. There was a timber-boarded small belfry and dormer windows, probably on both sides, lighting a west gallery. The roof had stone tiles. Before the restoration there was no interior structural distinction between nave and chancel.

The church was extensively restored in 1867-8, to the design of Benjamin Lay of Welshpool, under the Rev. Griffith Edwards, at which time it was given new windows to north and south, a new belfry, a north vestry and a south porch. The interior was given a new chancel arch and also a ceiling which conceals the mediaeval roof. The gallery was removed, but some of its carving was incorporated in the base of the chancel roof. The pulpit was removed to the north side. Many bones were found in the interior during restoration. The builder (until his failure) was H Williams, and the work was completed by H & H Owen. Glynne, visiting in 1869, regretted the loss of ancient features.

Many of the headstones in the churchyard are of a distinctive local carving tradition, with fine lettering and decorative and religious motifs at the heads of many stones; many designed as double headstones. Most are in the old (pre-1910) churchyard, but some are in the later extension, as the tradition appears to have persisted down to the 1930s.