Manordeifi Old Church

Manordeifi Old Church is a stone structure displaying medieval features, including an open bell turret, slate roofing, and a large west porch built from local blue-grey stone quarried at Cilgerran. The interior divides into sections for the nave, chancel, north vestry, and side aisles with stone-flagged flooring and wooden boards beneath the enclosed pews on either side.

The structure dates to the 13th century and experienced multiple dedications over time: originally committed to St. Llawddog, then St. Lawrence, and finally St. David as Manordeifi parish took shape. These naming changes trace shifts in local religious practice across centuries.

The interior displays box pews with private fireplaces belonging to prominent families, showing how social rank was expressed through seating arrangements in this Welsh place of worship. These furnishings reveal the connection between local power and religious practice in the community.

The site is accessible on foot, allowing visitors to approach from multiple angles and explore the surrounding area at their own pace. Good footwear is advisable since the ground can become slippery during wet weather or after rain.

A traditional coracle boat is stored in the church porch, historically used to ferry worshippers home when flooding blocked regular pathways during heavy water periods. This vessel stands as an unusual reminder of how the riverside community adapted to recurring water challenges.

Location: Manordeifi

Architectural style: English Gothic architecture

Elevation above the sea: 11.6 m

Website: http://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/CMSMS/index.php?page=manordeifi

GPS coordinates: 52.05840,-4.58557

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:41