St. Edrens / Ecclesia de Treffdyauc / Saint Edrens

Cited from Allen (1883: 262) in the CISP database [http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/cisp/database/site/sedrn.html] [accessed 13 December 2010]: "The present structure is entirely modern, and is built in debased Gothic style. All that now remains to bear witness to the existence of a more ancient building upon the present site are the four crosses to be described, and the ruined font lying broken in the north-west part of the churchyard." Described in the RCAHMW (Pembroke, 1925): "`The present structure, consisting of chancel, nave and western tower, was erected in the year 1846; all the fittings are of that date. The early font, once forming part of a stile on the north side of the churchyard, has recently been brought into the church. The bowl, much damaged, is octagonal in shape, with an external diameter of 28 inches; the base 28 inches square, seems to have supported an octagonal shaft, now missing. Both the bowl and the base are of the purple Cae Bwdi stone'." Ceridwen, in a recent visit to the church, informs that the church is no longer use for the cult: "This mysterious church, now a private house, stands in isolation among the fields between Mathry and Hayscastle: its tiny former parish had no focus of settlement and in 1833 the population numbered only 113. The church was dedicated to the C6 Armorican saint Edeyrn who was reputed to have travelled widely and as a result there are churches named for him in North and South Wales, and also Brittany.The present structure dates only from 1846 but several ancient crosses on the site remain from a much earlier time."