St David’s Church, Llanddew

button_lang_frenchbutton_lang_welshSt David’s Church, Llanddew

The history of worship here dates back to the founding of an early Christian clas. According to legend, Eluned, one of 24 reputed daughters of Brychan Brycheiniog, took refuge in the church here c.500AD.

Brychan is thought to have been king of the area later known as Brycheiniog (“land of Brychan”). Early medieval records say he was son of the Irish king Anlac and maternal grandson of the Welsh king Tewdrig, who lived in Garthmadryn. Historians once thought this was an earlier name for Brycheiniog or another name for Talgarth, but it is now thought to have been an unidentified place near the town of Brecon.

Llanddew church is now dedicated to Dewi Sant (St David) but the name Llanddew is unconnected to Dewi. It means "church of God" (Duw is "God" in modern Welsh). The church is alternatively dedicated to the Holy Trinity which replaced similar dedications to God in several other places in Wales. Early written forms of Llanddew include Lando (before 1162) and Landu Ecclesia Dei (c.1191).

Gerald of Wales explained this place-name in the journal of his tour through Wales in 1188, when he accompanied the Archbishop of Canterbury to preach and recruit for the third crusade. They preached at Llanddew on 8 March and spent the night here. Gerald had a house of his own in Llanddew because he was Archdeacon of Brecon from c.1175 to 1203.

Llanddew also had a bishop’s palace, established by the Bishop of St David’s in the 12th century (the diocese of Brecon was not created until the 20th century). The palace was in ruins by the 17th century. You can see remnants of it just across the road from the churchyard.

Parts of the church date from the 13th, 15th and 16th centuries. The structure was rebuilt in the 17th and 19th centuries. Surviving medieval fittings include the font and two stoups – small stone basins which held holy water for people to make the sign of the cross as they entered.

There are also squints in the walls. These small, angled window apertures may have been for people with diseases such as leprosy to watch the priest at the altar without entering the church.

A memorial in the churchyard honours four local men who died in the First World War – details below.

With thanks to Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust and Rowena Akinyemi, and to Richard Morgan, of the Welsh Place-Name Society, for place-name information

Postcode: LD3 9SS    View Location Map

Parish website

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Men named on Llanddew war memorial

Josiah Rees Williams, Private 2285. Died 04/07/1915 aged 22. Brecknockshire Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Commemorated at Heliopolis Memorial, Aden. Son of Josiah and Ann Williams, of Forge Villa, Llanddew, and later of Slwch Farm.

Evan Frederick Jones, Private 31373. Died 08/10/1918 aged 27. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Buried at Ramicourt British Cemetery, France. Son of William and Mary Jones, of Pantau, Llanddew. Brother of Albert, below. Was a farmer's son. 

Albert Rees Jones, Private 235576. Died 29/09/1918 aged 23. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Commemorated at Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France. Son of William and Mary Jones, of Pantau, Llanddew. Was a farmer's son.

John Lewis, Corporal 55470. Killed in action 29/10/1918 aged 26. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried at Engelfontaine British Cemetery, France. Son of John and Anne Lewis, of Gwarcae, Llanddew. Was a wheelwright.