St Cynfran Churchyard, Llysfaen, Denbighshire

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Contents 1 General Information 2 History 2.1 War Memorial 3 Location 4 Commonwealth War Graves Commission 5 More Information

General Information

Name: St Cynfran Churchyard, Llysfaen, Denbighshire

Address: Pentregwyddel Road, Llysfaen, Colwyn Bay LL29 8SP

GPS Coordinates: 53.28262, -3.66123

County Reorganisation:

Until 1923 Llysfaen was an exclave of Caernarfonshire and has been moved 3 times since then:

1923 - 1974 Denbighshire

1974 - 1996 Clwyd

1996 - to present day Conwy

History

The origins of the graveyard in Llysfaen are lost in the mists of time as are the origins of a centre of worship in the village. The earliest reference to a stone building being seen on the site give a date of "seven and two sevens". This is generally interpreted to mean the year 777 but could also be taken to mean 714. It is believed that Christian worship may have begun in Llysfaen as early as the 5th century and so burials possibly go back to a similar date.

Until the 19th century burials for most ordinary people would have been consisted of them being wrapped in a winding sheet of linen or wool and buried in a grave marked with a wooden cross or nothing at all.

Pentregwyddel Farm family gravestone

Two old gravestones from the 17th century survive. They had been found leaning against the exterior wall of the church but are now set into the wall of the inside the porch. One commemorates the burial of Canon Thomas Vaughan, Rector of Llysfaen 1646-1673, and his wife, Elizabeth. The other gravestone dates from 1679 and commemorates the burial members of a family from Pentregwyddel Farm. which was a large, ancient farmhouse, long since lost to local quarry workings.

Gravestone Inscription of the Rector of Llysfaen 1646-1673, and his wife

Prior to the twentieth century, a portion of the current graveyard to the south side, sloped away steeply and was part of the gardens of the neighbouring cottages. This was levelled up using topsoil from a local quarry around 1910 and was then available for burials.

This additional area was still insufficient for the needs of the local population and the Parochial Church Council bought the adjoining northern piece of land which was consecrated by the Archbishop of Wales in June 1928.

St Cynfran's 1928 Churchyard Extension

By the end of the century, the whole graveyard was almost full and a further extension was needed. This time it was the Community Council who took responsibility and created the separately run Llysfaen Community Cemetery. It is in an adjacent field and can only be accessed through the church grounds. It has been in use since about 1997/8

Llysfaen War Memorial

War Memorial

The churchyard is also home to the village war memorial which stands just inside the entrance. It includes the names of 44 casualties from the First World War and 2 from the Second World War.

Location

St Cynfran's Churchyard stands at the corner of Ffordd-y-Llan and Pentregwyddel Road. The entrance is of Pentregwyddel Road, not far from the junction with Ffordd-y-Llan. The oldest part of the churchyard surrounds the church with the 1928 extension lying to the north and the entrance to the new Community Cemetery to the north west

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 7 war graves in Llysfaen. Five are from the First World War and Two from the Second World War.

J G LARSON, Telegraphist, Service Number: Bristol Z/1274, H.M.S. "Duke of Clarence.", Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Died 01 April 1918, 30 years old, Buried: In South-East part.

R ROBERTS, Private, Service Number: 20292, 14th Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Died 03 December 1918, 30 years old, Buried: In South-East part.

W ROBERTS, Private, Service Number: 94191, 17th Bn. The King's (Liverpool Regiment).

Died 07 November 1919, 22 years old, Buried: In South-West part.

ARTHUR PARRY JONES, Second Lieutenant, Service Number: PJ/22389, Royal Air Force.

Died 22 September 1918, 19 years old, Buried: In South-West part.

J WILLIAMS, Private, Service Number: 36783, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Died 19 February 1919, Buried: In South-East part.

WILFRED JONES, Leading Aircraftman, Service Number: 1032809, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Died 13 January 1942, 32 years old. Buried: New ground. Grave 82.

GWILYM SAMUEL JONES, Aircraftman 1st Class, Service Number: 1538260, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Died 16 May 1943, 21 years old, Buried: New ground. Grave 95.

More Information

• Llsyfaen Churchyard Burial Index
• St. Cynfran Churchyard Find A Grave
• St. Cynfran Churchyard Billion Graves
• Church of St Cynfran, Llysfaen Eastern Conwy Churches Survey
• Llysfaen (St. Cynfran) Churchyard Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Davies, Joan M. Llysfaen Our Village - Part 3. The Church and Chapels. Pages 26-28 and other pages: Available as a PDF download. Llysfaen, Clwyd Publishing Joan M Davies 1993
• Clwyd Monumental Inscriptions
• Llysfaen's St Cynfran’s Church in appeal Daily Post 7 Oct 2010
• Wales Churchyards and Cemeteries

The Church

• Llysfaen - History Wikipedia
• St Cynfran’s Church and well, Llysfaen https://historypoints.org/index.php?page=st-cynfrans-church-llysfaen History Points]
• Parish Church of St. Cynfran [1] British Listed Buildings
• Churches - Llysfaen Clwyd Family History Society
• St Cynfran, Llysfaen Genuki
• Llysfaen - Window Imperial War Museum Memorial details
• Ffynnon Gynfran, Llysfaen Well Hopper