St Michael’s Church

Fascinating mish mash of architecture outside and fab decoration inside.

The Church of St Michael in Llanyblodwel is an almost entirely unique edifice, rebuilt by Reverend John Parker during his tenure as vicar between 1845 and 1860 from the previous medieval structure. A Norman church was built on the site some time after the conquest in 1066, but little remains of that building. The South doorway and arcades in the North aisle are all that remain from that original structure. Also in the South porch is a 14th century gravestone, featuring a small amount of Lombardic runes and a relief image of a coursing hare. Rev. John Parker made significant changes to the church between 1847 and 1853 after travels through Europe and Wales. Most notable from the outside is the highly unusual domical spire, almost completely separated from the rest of the building standing at 32 metres. Inside the church, Parker's Gothic decoration is truly striking. The walls are painted with scripture, vines and other Gothic designs. The roof timbers and stained glass windows add to the highly decorated atmosphere, as well as the two galleries and organ. A few decades after Parker's extensive work the entire church was whitewashed. The decoration was uncovered again in 1960 and extensive restoration has returned the church to Parker's vision of Gothic glory. There is a war memorial window in the south wall, featuring a soldier offering his sword to Christ.

Very fond memories and some painful ones