St. Cynfil, Aberporth, Cardiganshire

S. CYNFIL, ABERPORTH, CARDIGANSHIRE, - This is a small new church inexpensively built for £700, from the designs of Mr. Withers. In plan it has a nave 42 feet 2 inches by 17 feet 6 inches, a chancel 18 feet by 13 feet 2 inches, and a north-eastern vestry. The church is well arranged with open seats, etc. and with the door at the western extremity of the south wall of the nave. The chancel-arch is good, without imposts; and the windows have very fair tracery. The material used for the walling is a warm sandstone from the neighbourhood: the dressings are of Bath-stone; the woodwork of deal, except the altar, pulpit, lectern, and altar-rails, which are of oak. The vestry roof is continued as a projecting eave to protect the bier, which is hung against the external wall. [Ecclesiologist February 1856 page 73]

The pre-1855 church comprised nave and chancel with pointed chancel arch and a large west bellcote. The west door was reportedly medieval and there is thought to have been a tomb recess in the north wall. The church was rebuilt in 1855-1857, to the designs of R.J. Withers, London, on the foundations of its predecessor but retaining nothing from the earlier fabric. The church is constructed of squared Pwntan sandstone rubble and consists of two-bayed chancel, three-bayed nave, south porch, north vestry and boilerhouse (east of vestry). The font dates from the nineteenth century.

The church of St. Cynfil, situated on an eminence, is a modern building of stone in the Gothic style, consisting of chancel, nave and aisles, north porch, and a turret containing one belt: there are stained windows and the church affords 140 sittings. [Kelly's Directory of South Wales (1895)]

Reference    Ecclesiologist February 1856 page 73 - New Churches
Reference    Carmarthen Journal 25 January 1856 - being built
Reference    Kelly's Directory of South Wales (1895)]
Reference    Coflein
ICBS 04856 Rebuild     Grant approved