St Baglan's Church, Llanfaglan

The size of the surrounding churchyard and the presence within the structure of the church of a stone dating from the 5th or 6th century is evidence that an earlier church or churches stood on the site. It is traditionally credited to its namesake, the 7th-century saint Baglan ap Dingad. The present church dates probably from the 13th century. The chancel was rebuilt in about 1800, when the north porch was also added. Unusually, the church escaped restoration during the Victorian era, and so its interior is still little changed since about 1800. Describing the reasons for its Grade I listing, Cadw states it is "a rare example of a medieval church unrestored in the 19th century, so retaining…

Cadw describes the set of mid- and later 18th-century furniture as being "exceptional". The oak altar is enclosed by communion rails on three sides; the rails are supported by slender balusters and on the corner posts are finials. In the southwest corner of the chancel is an oak pulpit and a reading desk over which is a sounding board. The seating in the nave, chancel and transept consists of box pews and benches, some of which are inscribed with initials and dates. The font dates from the 13th or 14th century and consists of a heptagonal gritstone bowl on a heptagonal shaft. On the walls of the church are slate memorial tablets. The bell is dated 1790, and was re-fitted in 2003. An early…