Llanfihangel ar Arth

Eglwys Sant Mihangel

Rhoddwyd yr enw i’r plwyf oherwydd egwlys Sant Mihangel - Eglwys Sant Mihangel ar y bryn. Mae’n debyg mai sail celtaidd ydyw, a gafodd ei ail-adeiladu yn y flwyddyn 717AC.

Roedd y Sant Celtaidd Llawddog yn weithgar yn yr ardal yma yn y 6ed ganrif ac mae’n bosib mae ef oedd yn gyfrifol am sefydlu llan ar ddarn o dir yn goruwchwylio’r afon Teifi.

Mae’r ymrwymiad i Sant Mihangel yn dynodi safle o ddefnydd crefyddol cyn-Cristnogaeth, felly cafodd yr egwlys ei adeiladu mewn safle a oedd eisioes yn arbennig.

Carregfedd Ulcagnus

Mae yna ddau brif ffactor sydd yn dangos fod Llanfihangel ar Arth yn sefydliad cynnar. Credir bod carregfedd Ulcagnus yn arysgrif Cristnogol sydd yn dyddio o’r 4ydd neu’r 5ed ganrif. Mae bellach yn sefyll tu fewn i’r eglwys i sicrhau ei chadwraeth a diogelwch. Mae yna ail garreg hynafol, wedi’i arysgrifo a phum croes, sydd naill ai yn glorian i fedd neu’n allor cynnar iawn. Cafodd hon hefyd ei darganfod yn y fynwent ac mae bellach yn yr eglwys. Gweler isod:

Ffenestri Lliw

Yn nechrau yr 20fed ganrif cafodd ffenestr lliw ei osod yn wal y dwyrain tu ol i’r allor (y llun lliw isod dde) a rhoddwyd yr ail ffenestr lliw mewn yn 1995 (gweler isod chwith). Roedd hwn yn rhodd gan y Parch. Evan Tudor Thomas (1911 - 1992) a gafodd ei eni yng Ngwynfryn, Llanfihangel a oedd yn Ficer yn Mhantfaen, Abergwaun, o 1959 i 1977. Mae’n dangos yr Esgyniad ac er cof am ei rieni, Thomas a Margaret Thomas, a’i fodryb Elizabeth Thomas. Creuwyd y ffenestr gan Gabriel Loire, pan yn 90 mlwydd oed, a’i dim o Chartres. Hwn yw’r enghraifft cyntaf yng Nghymru o un o gynllunwyr ffenestri lliw modern gorau yn y byd, a medrir gweld ei waith mewn 29 gwlad. Tynnir un o’r lluniau isod allan o lyfr ‘This Small Corner: A History of Pencader and District’ gan Steve Dube (2000).

Porth yr Eglwys

Rhoddwyd y porth hwn (isod) ar ei phenblwydd yn 90 oed gan Miss L.V. Jones Hafan Deg, prifathrawes yr ysgol gynradd leol am 43 mlynedd ac aelod ffyddlon o’r Egwlys, yn Rhagfyr 2002.

St. Michael’s Church

The church of St Michael gave the parish its name - the Church of St Michael on the Hill. It is probably a Celtic foundation, said to have been rebuilt in the year 717AD.

The Celtic saint Llawddog was active in this area in the 6th century and it is possible that he was responsible for establishing a llan or small monastic settlement on a spur of land overlooking the river Teifi.

The church was built on a site that was already recognised as special: the dedication to St Michael denotes a place of pre-christian religious use.

Ulcagnus Gravestone

There are two clear indications that Llanfihangel ar Arth is an early foundation. The Ulcagnus gravestone is thought be a Christian inscription dating from the 4th or the 5th century AD. It is now within the church for better preservation and protection. A second ancient stone, bearing five inscribed crosses, is either a coffin lid or a very early altar. This was also discovered in the graveyard and is now in the church. See above.

Stained Glass Windows

A stained glass window was fitted in the east wall behind the altar in the early years of the 20th century (see above right), and a second stained glass window was added in 1995 (see above left). This was bequest by the Rev Evan Tudor Thomas (1911 - 1992) who was born at Gwynfryn, Llanfihangel, and was Vicar of Pantfaen, Fishguard, from 1959 to 1977. It protrays the Ascension and is a memorial to his parents, Thomas and Margaret Thomas, and his aunt Elizabeth Thomas. The window was made by Gabriel Loire, then 90 years old, and his team at Chartres. It is the frist example in Wales of one of the finest modern stained glass designers in the world, whose work can be seen in 29 countries. It is sited in the south wall of the church, near the family pew once occupied by the Thomas family. The 1st image above is taken from ‘This Small Corner: A History of Pencader and District’ by Steve Dube (2000).

Lichgate

This lichgate (above) was donated on her 90th birthday by Miss L.V. Jones Hafan Deg, headteacher of the local primary school for 43 years and a faithful member of the church, in December 2002.