Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog / Llanfanfreit / Llansanfraid

Noted in a letter to the editor of 'Archaeologia Cambrensis' (issue no. XXIX, 4th series, January 1877: 157) from "E.O.": "There is in front of the Glyn vicarage what is said to have been a font, but it looks more like a vase, standing on a Doric grooved shaft. It may indeed have been a font for, it somewhat resembles one which is kept in the vestry of Pentre Voelas Church." [NB: the description above suggests a Georgian design object]. The CPAT survey entry for this church [www.cpat.demon.co.uk/projects/longer/churches/wrexham/16889.htm] [accessed 11 October 2011] notes: "The origin and early history of this church are unknown. Only the dedication (St Bridget = St Ffraid) suggests an early medieval beginning. In the Middle Ages it was certainly a chapelry to Llangollen and with the mother church was appropriated to the Cistercian abbey of Valle Crucis in the 13thC. In the Taxatio of 1291 it is probably to be equated with the 'Ecclia de Llanfanfreit' which was valued at œ3 6s 8d, and in 1535 the Valor Ecclesiasticus records it as 'Capella de Llansanfraid'. The church was rebuilt about 1790 and remodelled in 1838-9, at the expense of Viscount Dungannon with its architecture in the Decorated style. In 1853 Glynne found a church 'presenting scarcely any object of interest', the west tower alone retaining some of its character. The windows were new, and internally the chancel still had pews; the font bowl had been replaced." [NF: we have no information on the medieval font here].