St Michael & All Angels

The church is of early 12th century design and occupies the site of an earlier building, the foundations of which have been uncovered. The earlier work may have been a church, possibly the ancient chapel of St Aaron that may have been a private chapel to the nearby Llantarnam Abbey. The basic structure is twelfth century and there is evidence that it was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary & Mary Magdalene, on her feast day, 22 July 1179.

The church building was radically altered in the 15th century, but, far from falling into decay when it became monastic property, a thorough reconstruction took place.The east of the church was renewed, a north chapel (the present Lady Chapel) was built and the aisles were lighted with larger windows. A church tower was added, rather squat and without windows, strongly constructed, its battlemented walls being one metre thick.

The chapel to the north seems to have been added in the 15th century, possibly as a lady chapel. The Cistercians were known for their special devotion to the Virgin Mary. It was referred to in 1535 as the 'chapel of St Michael near the monastry'. Some of the chapel stonework including the Italian marble altar reredos more than likely came from the Cistercian Abbey at Llantarnam.

In the 16th century the poet Sawnder Sion who was known as the 'Lion of Llantarnam' and was a protege of Llantarnam Abbey died. He had been one of the lay brothers or conversi. He lived at Llangovan but desired to be buried in the church of Llanfihangel Llantarna, presumably as this was after the dissolution of the monasteries the closest church (which had belonged to the abbey). He was buried beneath the choir and the burial was witnessed by Dafydd Benwyn, another poet.