Welcome to this ancient Parish Church where worship has been maintained since the fifth century, when a cell is believed to have been founded here by St Cein. In those days it would probably have been a wooden structure, evidence for which is understood to be under the present tower floor according to past archeological excavations.
St Cein was one of the daughters of Brychan, a Welsh King whose name is given to Bycheiniog (Breconshire), another of his daughters was Gwladys who founded a cell above Bargoed. Brychan is reputed to have sired many children, the most commonly recorded number being 24. Practically all of them were Christian pioneers in South Wales, Devon and Cornwall. St Cein is reputed to have been outstandingly beautiful though she refused all offers of marriage, determining to give her life to God, she became a Nun.
She is also the patron of St Keyne in Cornwall, where there is a well with a popular local tradition, that whichever partner is first to drink it?s water after the marriage ceremony will have the upper hand in the partnership. One Cornishman left his bride at the church porch after the ceremony in order to be first at the well, but he was outwitted by his new wife who had earlier filled a bottle from the well and concealed it under her wedding dress.
While in Cornwall St Cein went to visit St Cadoc, Gwladys?s son at St Michael?s Mount, and he pursuaded his Aunt that she should return to Wales and continue her work there, which she did settling initially near Crickhowell.
Moving on now to the sixth century, a church was established on the original site by the Princes of Morgannwg, as were the churches at Llangynwyd, Bettws and Llandyfodwg. This site stands beside the old drovers which runs north/south across thre top of the hill country, which meets the east/west road at Bryncethin. It wasn?t until mining came to the valleys that roads were built nearer the rivers. At this spot we are 700 feet above sea level and on a clear day you can see the counties of Somerset and Devon across the Bristol Channel as well as the Welsh ones.
It is recorded that in 1141 Maurice de Londres of Ogmore Castle, gave thew church to the Monastery of St Peter in Gloucester in order that a "covenant of monks be established", this led to the founding of Ewenny Priory,. to which Llangeinor church and the surrounding lands then belonged. The old celtic name for the area was ALTEREWE, which means wooded hill, and it is known that the monks used the wood for various purposes, including as fuel for heating and cooking. It is also known that William de Londres, Lord Ogmore, grandson of Maurice confirmed the gift in the 12th century.
In the early 13th century one of the Benedictine monks of Ewenny, Clement the Deacon, reestablished a cell on the site. Then much later in the century the Cistercian monks of Margam Abbey, renowned sheep farmers, rented for forty shillings per annum, the mountain land above the church and also 180 acres of arable land around it. They would certainly have had a building for storage and stabling their animals, there is evidence that the Ty Abbot next to the Llangeinor arms was used for such purposes and dates from that time. There are also old foundations in the garden of Cae Abbot Farm cross the green, which may suggest that the monks had some living accommodation while working the land, and the church for their daily services. Which in those days would probably have begun with Lauds at 3am and continued at three hourly intervals with Prime, Terse Sext, None, Vespers and Compline before retiring.
By the 14th century Margam was experiencing problems both with manpower and finances, and so they handed back the church and lands to Henry of Grosmont the then Lord Ogmore, who later became Duke of Lancaster. Gradually the land was let off for farming and buildings were constructed in the more sheltered parts of the region, but even by 1801 the whole parish of Llangeinor which stretched between the Ogmore and Garw rivers, and from their meeting in the south to the head of the valleys, only had a population of 280 persons residing on 60 houses.
Now to the building as it is now. The Nave in which you are sitting has its origins in the 15th century, the three middle roof timbers being the oldest, the tower was then added in the 16th century. This was a Gothic restructuring of the original Norman Building. Then in 1893 a major Perpendicular restoration was carried out which was paid for by Miss Olive Talbot of Margam. The Talbot family after whom Port Talbot is named were the benefactors for much church repair and restoration work in the Glamorgan of their day. They added the top section of the Tower and the Sanctuary was extended eastward to create the Choir and Sanctuary that you see. The layout was in the high church style of the Oxford Movement with Piscina and Sedilia in stone, which you can see to the south of the high altar. The Squints either side of the Chancel arch may have been there in the earlier building , but they now align with the present high altar, so the consecration could be more easily seen from the Nave.
The Font is believed to have survived from Norman Times (11th century) part of the first stone building on this site. The bowl is of Sutton stone though the base and support are of a later date.
The windows are of Victorian stained glass from the 1893 restoration. The east window above the altar depicts the cruciixion with Jesus mother Mary on the left and St John on the right. This was"placed by parishioners in remembrance of the generosity of Miss Olive Talbot who restored the church at her sole cost. -1893." so says the tablet above the main entrance. The west window is notable for it?s Sacred Pelican, a Christian symbol for the Lord?s redeeming work especially as mediated through the Blessed Sacrament. If no food is available a Pelican will wound herself in order to feed her young with her blood. Pelicans are also fishers as were some of the Twelve Apostles.
The nave altar is of oak and believed to be Jacobean, while the High altar is also of oak but of a later date.
The oldest memorials in the church are the four stones in the floor to the west of the altar rail.
The doorway above the pulpit is believed to have led to the Rood loft, a wooden screen across the arch surmounted by the crucifixion scene in wood as now depicted in the east window. Possibly even many many years ago to a priests room spaning the church above this chancel arch and lit by the high window to the south.
Service held every Sunday at 11.15 am