St Cadog's - Past, Present and Future
St Cadog's in History
The patron saint of this church is now referred
to as St Cadog, but it has, at other times, been St David, the
nation’s patron saint. The twelfth century poet, Gwynfardd
Brycheiniog, wrote a poem in honour of St David which ascribed
the dedication of five or six of the leading Carmarthenshire churches
to the national saint; among them was the church in Llangadog.
In 1282, in the lands of the (King) Rhys, enormities
were apparently committed by the English soldiers “in the
church of St David called Llagadanc. They made stables, lodged
hariots and took away all the goods of the church and burnt the
(priest’s ) house and wounded the chaplain on the head with
a sword by the altar in the church and left him there half alive”.
At the time of the 1889 rebuilding, the church
was known as St Cadog’s but in an Inventory by The Royal
Commission of Historical Monuments in Wales in 1917, reference
is made to the “…Church of St Davids in Llangadock”.
Perhaps the church always used to have a joint dedication.
St Cadog was the son of St Woolos, King of Gwent
and his wife, Gwladys, daughter of King Brychan. Having been baptised
by the Irish missionary, St Tatheus (Athan) Cadog went on to founded
a monastery in Llancarfan in Glamorgan which enjoyed great respect
for its learning and survived until the Norman Conquest.
Cadog was present at the synod at Llandewi Brefi,
travelled widely in Wales and Brittany, and died in 577 in a place
not fully identified but thought to be Llansannor near Llancarfan.
St Cadog's Today
St Cadog’s Church, Llangadog
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Nave and chancel
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Chancel east window
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Organ in south transept
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The Parish church of St Cadog is a Grade 2* listed
building which has, in one form or another stood sentinel over
the lives of the inhabitants of Llangadog for over 1400 years.
Our faithful congregation has shown steady signs of growth over
the past few years. We are open every day for worship and to provide
a space for quiet reflection.
The rhythm of Sunday worship consists of different
services from Eucharist and choral evensong to youth praise.
The church is the centre of much musical activity
being the headquarters of a mixed voice choir and well-established
symphony orchestra. It is also the reference point for many parochial
events during the year such as parish fetes, school and college
visits, animal services, etc. It is indeed a focal point for many
activities in the area.
St Cadog's Future
Apart from remodelling of the chancel in the 1950’s
, the last time any major refurbishment took place was when the
church was almost entirely rebuilt over 110 years ago. Then the
bill was for £2,500.
Major repairs to
the tower were undertaken during 2008 and funded by HLF, CADW
and others and electrical rewiring is now to be carried out.
Every year the regular worshippers here raise
nearly £14,000 just to maintain the regular round of church
activities and to keep the building open every day. This money pays
for the lighting, heating, insurance, parish expenses and on-going
maintenance that has to be carried out.
Through regular fund-raising activities, the church
members just about manage to pay for these ordinary costs.
The capital sums needed for other major restoration
and refurbishment, however, is beyond the abilities of existing
members, and so that is why you are invited to make a donation,
however small, to our appeal.
Repairs to St Cadog's Church
How You Can Help
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