St Cynfarch & St Mary

Set within its own walled churchyard in the village of Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd.

The original dedication was to St Cynfarch, who was a chieftain from northern Britain, and an additional dedication to St Mary was added in the 15th century. The building dates from the thirteenth century and is mentioned in the Norwich Taxation of 1254 but the origins of the site are likely to be older. The church is built of local limestone in the double nave style favoured in the Vale of Clwyd.

Some interior medieval features remain, including part of a rood screen, a monument to a 14th century Welsh knight, and remnants of a 14th century sepulchral slab which, until 2019, had been used to block up the North door. There is a mosaic of stained glass in the south window which dates from 1503 and, from the 17th century, a parish chest and stone font. The church was renovated in the 1870s and there is a range of Victorian stained glass windows, some incorporating reused medieval panes. In 1949 the east end of the south nave was formed into a War Memorial chapel.

The churchyard contains a medieval preaching cross, which was converted to a sundial in 1800, and a number of veteran Yew trees; the oldest of which is estimated to be over 780 years old. The seeds of the yew trees are a favourite winter food of Hawfinches; they are wary birds but if you are lucky you may see some in our churchyard.