More than a thousand years of history

The history of the churches in the Upper Teifi Valley extends back into the early medieval period, a time when little is known for certain about the Church that existed in Wales. According to the Life of St David, written in the late eleventh century, Llanddewi Brefi was the site of the synod at which St David preached and was confirmed archbishop of Wales, but only glimpses of the life and times of David and other religious figures of the period can be ascertained from these medieval writings.

While few of the churches can be dated to a period before the eleventh century, the circular churchyards, early medieval inscribed stones and ancient yew trees are suggestive of a long history of faith in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

Medieval churches populated the Upper Teifi Valley and the Cistercian abbey of Strata Florida dominated the area and owned a number of these churches. Impressive medieval towers at Tregaron and Llanddewi Brefi date to the fourteenth century, and those at Llanybydder and Llanwenog date to the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries.

The area played a central part in the religious revivals of the eighteenth century. The chapel at Abermeurig was first built in 1698, a time when Presbyterians were forced to meet in secret. The great Methodist preacher Daniel Rowland was a curate at Llangeitho from the mid-eighteenth century and thousands flocked to hear him preach.