St. Michael's Church, Llanfihangel tor y Mynydd - Eglwys Mihangel Sant, Llanfihangel tor y Mynydd
The church is the centre of an ancient religious site and clues to its antiquity abound in the landscape. The shape of the churchyard and surviving traces of a bank and ditch enclosure suggest this is a pre-conquest foundation; an assumption strengthened by the llan place name and reference to Llanfihangel in the Book of Llandaff.
It is likely that the footings of the timber-built "Celtic" church which once stood here lie under the present church. The fields surrounding the church are also thought to be defined by ancient boundaries. Investigations by Martin Locock of the Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust suggest that Llanfihangel tor y Mynydd church lies at the centre of a "fossilised" landscape with origins in the early medieval period.
The origins of the church you see today are Norman although the ethnic/linguistic affinities of the parishioners are reflected in the retention of the Mihangel (Michael) dedication and the tor y Mynydd description which locates the church in its hollow on the side of the mountain.
Both the nave and lower chancel of the church are medieval and the mullioned south window is a Tudor construction. The church was restored by Prichard and Seldon in 1852-4; the double bellcote was added at this time. Among the most striking aspects of the church is retention of the stone pre-Reformation altar with its clearly defined five dedication crosses. The altar has been built into the floor immediately to the side of the wooden Victorian altar used today. The churchyard cross platform base also survives.
Thanks to a special gift of land from the estate of the Williams family, a Parish Car Park adjacent to St. Michael's Church was officially opened on Friday, 16th June 2006.
Another dedication may be seen at the edge of the Parish Car Park: a Rowan tree planted in celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
Regular services are held in the church every first Sunday of the month at 09.30. Other services are as announced on the notice board in the Church porch, the community notice board at The Star Inn and here on this website. Everyone of any faith or none is welcome at our services.
An extensive programme of restoration was carried out in 2007/2008 but work continues in order to maintain this special building. Some images from the restoration work may be seen below.
Although for security reasons the church is kept locked, visitors are very welcome. During the first weekend of every summer month the church is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 until 16.00. During winter months the church is open from 10.00 until 15.00. To arrange access at other times, please telephone Wardens: Ray Howell on 01600 860229 or Paul Williams on 01291 650213.
Croeso i eglwys Llanfihangel tor y Mynydd. I casglu'r allwedd, galw Wardeniaid: Ray Howell 01600 860229, neu Paul Williams, 01291 650213.
N.B. Details of services in St. Michael's and within the Monmouth Ministry Area as well as on-line services are available within the St. Michael's Church/Church Services section.
Mae'r eglwys yn ganolbwynt i safle crefyddol hynafol ac mae cliwiau i'w hynafiaeth yn gyffredin yn y dirwedd. Mae siap y fynwent a'r olion sydd wedi goroesi o glawdd ffos yn awgrymu cyn-Normanaidd yw hwn; rhagdybiaeth a gryfhawyd gan yr enw 'llan' a chyfeirnod yn llyfr Llandaf.
Mae'n debyg bod selfeini'r eglwys Geltaidd bren yn gorwedd o dan yr eglwys bresennol. Mae ffiniau hynafol yn amgylchu'r caeau o amgylch yr eglwys. Mae Martin Locock o Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Morganwg Gwent wedi ysgrifennu ei fod yn dirweddau ffosiledig gyda gwreiddiau yn y canoloesoedd cynnar. Mae gwreiddiau'r eglwys a welwch heddiw yw Normanaidd ond gwelir iaith y plwyfolion cynnar yn yr ymroddiad i Mihangel a'r disgrifiad 'tor y mynydd'.
Mae corff yr eglwys a'r gangell yn ganoloesol a'r ffenestr ddeheuol gythryblus yw Tuduraidd. Adferwyd yr eglwys gan Prichard a Seldon ym 1852-4; ychwanegwyd y clycau dwbl ar yr adeg hon. Ymhlith y nodweddion diddorol mae'r allor cyn y Diwygiad Protestannaidd gyda'i chroesau cysegru. Mae wedi ei osod yn y llawr wrth ymyl yr allor Fictoraidd a ddefnyddir heddiw. Mae traws blatfform mynwent hefyd yn parhau.
Diolch i rodd o dir gan y teulu Williams, cysegrwyd maes parcio wrth ymyl yr eglwys at 16 Mehefin 2006. Cynhaliwyd rhaglen adfer helaeth yn 2007/8. Mae rhai
lluniau o'r gwaith adfer yn ymddangos isod.
Cynhelir gwasanaethau rheolaidd bob dydd Sul cyntaf y mis am 9.30. Cyhoeddir gwasanaethau eraill ar y hysbysfwrdd ym mhorth y eglwys, yr hysbysfwrdd cymunedol yn y Star ac yma ar y wefan. Mae croeso i bawb o unrhyw ffydd neu ddim.
Am resymau diogelwch, mae'r eglwys yn cael ei chadw dan glo ond yn ystod penwythnos cyntaf y mis mae ar agor - dydd Gwener, dydd Sadwrn, dydd Sul 1000 - 1600. I drefnu mynediad ar amserau eraill, ffoniwch y wardeniau - Ray Howell 01600-860229 neu Paul Williams 01291-650213. Mae manylion gwasanaethau gan gynnwys gwasanaethau ar-lein ar y wefan hon.
For photographs of St. Michael's Churchyard, look at the St. Michael's Churchyard page on this website.
Am ffotograffau o'r fynwent, ewch i dudalen y fynwent ar y wefan hon
It is likely that the footings of the timber-built "Celtic" church which once stood here lie under the present church. The fields surrounding the church are also thought to be defined by ancient boundaries. Investigations by Martin Locock of the Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust suggest that Llanfihangel tor y Mynydd church lies at the centre of a "fossilised" landscape with origins in the early medieval period.
The origins of the church you see today are Norman although the ethnic/linguistic affinities of the parishioners are reflected in the retention of the Mihangel (Michael) dedication and the tor y Mynydd description which locates the church in its hollow on the side of the mountain.
Both the nave and lower chancel of the church are medieval and the mullioned south window is a Tudor construction. The church was restored by Prichard and Seldon in 1852-4; the double bellcote was added at this time. Among the most striking aspects of the church is retention of the stone pre-Reformation altar with its clearly defined five dedication crosses. The altar has been built into the floor immediately to the side of the wooden Victorian altar used today. The churchyard cross platform base also survives.
Thanks to a special gift of land from the estate of the Williams family, a Parish Car Park adjacent to St. Michael's Church was officially opened on Friday, 16th June 2006.
Another dedication may be seen at the edge of the Parish Car Park: a Rowan tree planted in celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
Regular services are held in the church every first Sunday of the month at 09.30. Other services are as announced on the notice board in the Church porch, the community notice board at The Star Inn and here on this website. Everyone of any faith or none is welcome at our services.
An extensive programme of restoration was carried out in 2007/2008 but work continues in order to maintain this special building. Some images from the restoration work may be seen below.
Although for security reasons the church is kept locked, visitors are very welcome. During the first weekend of every summer month the church is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 until 16.00. During winter months the church is open from 10.00 until 15.00. To arrange access at other times, please telephone Wardens: Ray Howell on 01600 860229 or Paul Williams on 01291 650213.
Croeso i eglwys Llanfihangel tor y Mynydd. I casglu'r allwedd, galw Wardeniaid: Ray Howell 01600 860229, neu Paul Williams, 01291 650213.
N.B. Details of services in St. Michael's and within the Monmouth Ministry Area as well as on-line services are available within the St. Michael's Church/Church Services section.
Mae'r eglwys yn ganolbwynt i safle crefyddol hynafol ac mae cliwiau i'w hynafiaeth yn gyffredin yn y dirwedd. Mae siap y fynwent a'r olion sydd wedi goroesi o glawdd ffos yn awgrymu cyn-Normanaidd yw hwn; rhagdybiaeth a gryfhawyd gan yr enw 'llan' a chyfeirnod yn llyfr Llandaf.
Mae'n debyg bod selfeini'r eglwys Geltaidd bren yn gorwedd o dan yr eglwys bresennol. Mae ffiniau hynafol yn amgylchu'r caeau o amgylch yr eglwys. Mae Martin Locock o Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Morganwg Gwent wedi ysgrifennu ei fod yn dirweddau ffosiledig gyda gwreiddiau yn y canoloesoedd cynnar. Mae gwreiddiau'r eglwys a welwch heddiw yw Normanaidd ond gwelir iaith y plwyfolion cynnar yn yr ymroddiad i Mihangel a'r disgrifiad 'tor y mynydd'.
Mae corff yr eglwys a'r gangell yn ganoloesol a'r ffenestr ddeheuol gythryblus yw Tuduraidd. Adferwyd yr eglwys gan Prichard a Seldon ym 1852-4; ychwanegwyd y clycau dwbl ar yr adeg hon. Ymhlith y nodweddion diddorol mae'r allor cyn y Diwygiad Protestannaidd gyda'i chroesau cysegru. Mae wedi ei osod yn y llawr wrth ymyl yr allor Fictoraidd a ddefnyddir heddiw. Mae traws blatfform mynwent hefyd yn parhau.
Diolch i rodd o dir gan y teulu Williams, cysegrwyd maes parcio wrth ymyl yr eglwys at 16 Mehefin 2006. Cynhaliwyd rhaglen adfer helaeth yn 2007/8. Mae rhai
lluniau o'r gwaith adfer yn ymddangos isod.
Cynhelir gwasanaethau rheolaidd bob dydd Sul cyntaf y mis am 9.30. Cyhoeddir gwasanaethau eraill ar y hysbysfwrdd ym mhorth y eglwys, yr hysbysfwrdd cymunedol yn y Star ac yma ar y wefan. Mae croeso i bawb o unrhyw ffydd neu ddim.
Am resymau diogelwch, mae'r eglwys yn cael ei chadw dan glo ond yn ystod penwythnos cyntaf y mis mae ar agor - dydd Gwener, dydd Sadwrn, dydd Sul 1000 - 1600. I drefnu mynediad ar amserau eraill, ffoniwch y wardeniau - Ray Howell 01600-860229 neu Paul Williams 01291-650213. Mae manylion gwasanaethau gan gynnwys gwasanaethau ar-lein ar y wefan hon.
For photographs of St. Michael's Churchyard, look at the St. Michael's Churchyard page on this website.
Am ffotograffau o'r fynwent, ewch i dudalen y fynwent ar y wefan hon