Frequently Asked Questions

Llandyfeisant Church is owned by the Church in Wales. The church and graveyard sits in Castle Woods which is owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust For South & West Wales. Adjacent pasture and farmland is part of the National Trust’s Dinefwr Estate.

No. Following the decline of the Dinefwr Estate, services held at Llandyfeisant Church became much fewer in the 1950s. The church finally closed and was deconsecrated in 1961. Deconsecration (or decommissioning) is the removal of a religious blessing from something that had been previously consecrated for religious use. The font, a fine stained glass window and war memorials were removed to St Teilo’s in Llandeilo for safekeeping. The church was then locked up.

Following deconsecration in 1961, the church fell into disrepair. The Wildlife Trust for South & West Wales acquired Castle Woods and took a lease on the church. They carried important work to the church to ensure it’s survival, and it served as a wildlife centre during the 1980s. In the early 1990’s footfall past the church fell as the main drive was opened as the entry point to Dinefwr Park. The wildlife centre closed. Since the early 1990s it has been looked and is slowly being absorbed into the landscape and falling into disrepair. Friends of Llandyfeisant Church formed in 2019 when it was clear the church was getting into a very poor state of repair. We secured the church and it is now safe to enter and be used. Due to the remote location, we (and the church owners) feel that it currently needs to be locked when not in use.

Yes. The building was listed at Grade II on 18 March 1988, as a “church of moderate architectural interest in an exceptional location at Dynevwr Park, with a fine steeply sloping burial ground with old headstones”. Grade II buildings are deemed to be of special interest. Other Grade II buildings include the BT Tower and Abbey Road Studios in London, the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, and Wrexham Cathedral.

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) manages the graveyard for wildlife and visitors. The site is shaded by the mature trees that, influence the wild flowers that bloom here – comfrey, red campion, dog’s mercury and bluebells in the spring and summer. In sunnier areas, buttercups, red clover and meadow cranesbill thrive. Friends of Llandyfeisant Church maintain access to graves and ensure a “cared for” feel while respecting the nature and atmosphere of the church’s surrundings.

Because this spot wasn’t always so quiet! The church was built here to serve the parish of Llandyfeisant that included medieval settlements (now long gone) that grew up around Dinfwr Castle and Newton House. The track through what is now Castle Woods is the medieval route linking Llandeilo, Dinefwr Castle and Carmarthen. It avoided the flood plain of the Towy valley by holding to higher ground. It would have been a busy thoroughfare. As there had been a church here since 1291, it was the natural location for the new church built in the 1850’s by the Dynefor family. The estate at that time had 200 staff and tenant farmers. The church could seat them all.

The Church in Wales has many churches in similar or worse state. With no congregation and no parish, Llandyfeisant Church is, unfortunately by necessity, not a priority for them. Church in Wales have told us that they are very keen to support the community, and our group, in finding a lasting solution.  The Wildlife Trust carried out valuable work here in the 1980s but no longer hold a lease on the church. The National Trust are currently unable to help despite Llandyfesiant Church being a key building in the Dinefwr Park landscape. A building that is locked up and unused (as Llandyfeisant Church has been since the early 1990s) is sure to slowly start decaying. It was well-built and can be saved. But we need to act now!