Llanfihangel Abercywyn / Llanvihangel Abercywyn / Llanfihangel Abercowin

Described in Tyrrell-Green (1928) as one in a group of Norman fonts the basins of which are decorated with an arcade of intersecting arches [T-G's list includes: Purley (Berks.), Llanfihangel Abercywyn (Carmarthen), Tidmarsh (Berks.), East Horndon (Essex), Sandridge (Herts), St. Ives (Hunts.), Oakham (Rutland), Great Durnford (Wilts.)]. Noted in Baker-Jones (1970): ''The plain but massive Norman font in the so called "Pilgrims' Church" of Llanfihangel Abercywyn (now in ruins) has been removed to the modern parish church. It is of one piece resting on the floor without a base block or pedestal . The upper half has carving in slight relief depicting Romanesque arcading. Described and illustrated in Lord (2003), who dates it to the 12th century and finds the design of its intersecting arcade similar to those on the arches of the chapter house at St. Augustine's abbey, Bristol; on the strength of this similarity Lord (ibid.) suggests that the Llanfihangel Abercywyn font "was imported from one of many workshops in Somerset." [NB: the round pedestal of this font is either modern or has been plastered over covering the original one]