Early Medieval Cross in St Brynach’s Church, Llanfrynach

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The monument comprises a well-preserved pillar-cross dating to the 10th or 11th century AD, now attached to the northern jamb of the tower arch of St Brynach’s Church. It is the only survivor of three inscribed stones found during the restoration of the church in 1855, the other two being reburied or lost.

The stone is a deep-red medium-grained Old Red Sandstone and measures 1.77m in height, 0.18m wide at the base and 0.19m wide at the top and has a visible depth of 0.07m. It has two historic breaks that have been repaired but is otherwise in excellent condition. It is decorated with a pecked design which covers the entire face of the pillar. At the top of the design is a male figure with hands raised in the orans position with a cross, a crescent moon and a sun above its head. The figure appears to be standing in water up to its waist and has been interpreted as representing Christ being baptised. Below the figure is a panel of four-strand plait-work flanked by wavy lines. Towards its base the plait strands separate to enclose a cross, below which are two knot motifs and a bird. On the back of the pillar an inscription of iohīs was recorded in 1856 but this was questioned by later authors and is not currently visible due to the fixing of the monument to the restored tower arch.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of early medieval society and religion. It is a significant relic of early medieval religious practices and retains important evidence of early medieval art, iconography, sculpture and writing. The church itself stands within a very large sub-circular churchyard that is likely to be of pre-Norman origin and may retain associated early medieval archaeological remains. The importance of the monument is further enhanced by its group value shared with other composite pillar crosses in the area, including Llanhamlach (BR122) and Llandefaelog Fach (BR120).

The scheduled area is centred on OS NGR 307514 225790, is rectangular in plan measuring 0.38m x 0.27m and does not extend to the fabric of the church.