Churches

Rhydybriw Chapel of Ease

Victorian chapel located within Sennybridge Camp. It seems very likely that the chapel was built originally for the family living in Llywncyntefin mansion. The present chapel dates from around 1860. At one time the chapel was a chapel-of-ease attached to the parish of Llywel, then sometime around the Second World War it became a chapel-of-ease of the parish of Defynnog becoming a part of the parish of Blaenwysg in 2000.

St Cynog

The church consists of a porch, large vestry, tower, main aisle and North aisle. The building largely dates from the 14th and 15th centuries but has some surviving stonework from the 11th century in the north wall of the vestry. There is a very interesting font which bears a Runic inscription along with some fine German stained glass.

St David

St David's church at Llywel lies in a small valley converging on the Usk valley about 18km to the west of Brecon. Though part of the tower may be earlier, the building is considered to be largely late 15thC and is of simple plan. Internally there is an early medieval stone and the cast of another, a significantly early font and the village stocks.

St Ilid

Originally a part of the ancient parish of Defynnog the old chapel-of-ease was condemned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and a suitable site for a new church was sought. In 1883 the present church was built in a more central position for the parish, Crai having become a parish in its own right in 1881. The church is of simple design having a porch, nave and chancel with an apisidal sanctuary.

St Mary

The church was consecrated in 1889 having been built in the Gothic style with Forest stone dressings to a design by the architect Mr. J.B. Fowler. The chancel and vestry were added subsequently in 1903. In 1953 the church once more became a part of the parish of Llywel and in 2000 it became part of the parish of Blaenwysg.

St Teilo

The Faith is believed to have been established on the site of the present St.Teilo's church by Gwrmaeth, a disciple of St.Teilo ,around the year 540AD. The original name of the church was Llangwrmaeth, relating to the cell of Gwrmaeth. The present church is of a simple single storey construction in stone with a rectangular nave and chancel combined, under a lovely hammer-beam roof. There is a small bell-tower at the West end.The original water stoop,which would have been regularly used by worshipers in pre-reformation days can still be seen on the internal wall to the right of the main door as you enter the building. There also remains part of the original rood screen and evidence of access to the original rood loft.This an be seen as a bricked up door visible in the external wall. The present church appears to date from the 15th century and there is documentary evidence which shows the first incumbent to have been Sir Rhys ap Harry, who was vicar in 1573. The church was altered in 1875,but because it was a poor parish the church was not completely rebuilt. The late 1950's saw the introduction of electric lighting, when the supply came to the valley, and in the 1960's electric heating replaced the two old coal-fired stoves. Redecoration and new lighting and heating were completed in 2009.