Llanwonno is a small hamlet hidden away in the woods a few miles from the town of Pontypridd. The Parish of Llanwonno once embraced many other neighbouring communities including the lower parts of the Cynon Valley and Rhondda Fach as well as parts of Pontypridd.
Here, among the trees, is the Church of St Gwynno which sits alongside a pub. It stands on the site of an original sixth century church. Little detail is known of Gwynno’s life, although he hails from the great Llaniltud Fawr (Llantwit Major) of St Illtud’s fame.
We know that Gwynno left these shores for a short time to escape the Yellow Pestilence in the year 547, settling in Brittany before returning to Wales. He is one of the three saints from whom Llantrisant gets its name, alongside Illtud and Tyfodwg both of whom can be discovered on this trail.
Hwyl
Llanwynno.
The ground of Gwynno.
He walked here,
among the trees,
a friend of the forest,
fifteen hundred years ago,
built a timber church,
worked with wood,
wet soil, sand and clay
to create a place of prayer.
He left his name to the landscape,
fixed to the forest
a part of this place.
Now, years later,
we speak his name in passing,
a pinpoint on the map.
Llanwonno.
Yes, this is Gwynno’s ground,
Gwynno’s Church,
Gwynno’s Llan.
Here, among the trees,
secluded but not too far away,
we share this ground with him,
and all who come this way.
We stack our prayers,
piled high
like stones of some ancient cairn,
here on Gwynno’s forest land.
Bible Reading
From Ezekiel 34:25ff I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild animals from the land, so that they may live in the wild and sleep in the woods securely. I will make them and the region around my hill a blessing; and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. The trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase. They shall be secure on their soil; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
Prayer
Lord God,
I stand upon the ground
marked out by Gwynno.
Here,
he knelt in prayer to you,
protected by the woods
in his home beneath the trees.
Here,
in a place of solitude and sanctuary
made sacred by your Spirit,
you filled his life with love,
as he carried the Croeso of Christ’s coming
across the land we call home.
Send down again
the showers in their season,
your blessings from on High.
May the sacred secrets
once felt in this forest
by Gwynno’s open heart
fill the landscape of our lives,
to give us eyes to see
each ground as sacred,
and every moment
as a meeting point with you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Stay Awhile
Stay awhile, be still, and be at peace. Sense the sounds of nature, the birds and the breath of the wind. Feel the sun’s warmth, or the sounds and smells of the season which has seasoned your visit. Perhaps you can hear the sound of others, the gentle hum of a car engine, slammed doors, grinding feet across the gravel, as they seek out rest and leisure. Explore the stillness of Gwynno’s church. Meander among the gravestones and the long grass. Skirt the forest’s edge, inhale the scent of soft pine and the sweet smell of the woods. Let this be a moment for you, carved out among the trees, to know God’s love in Christ.
Pray for
Pray for the people
of the ancient Parish of Llanwonno,
for Abercynon and Blaenllechau,
Penrhiwceiber and Porth,
Mountain Ash and Stanleytown,
Ynyshir and Ynysybwl,
Wattstown and Pontypridd.
Pray for all Christian Pilgrims,
and all who are searching
for meaning to their lives.
Hwyl Fawr
May God be our guide along the way,
lighten the path before us,
and give us peace. Amen.
St Gwynno, pray for us.
St Illtud, pray for us.
St Tyfodwg, pray for us.
All the Saints of God, pray for us.
LINKS & INFO
St Gwynno’s Church is part of Pontypridd Ministry Area. More details at: www.pontypriddministryarea.org.uk
Where next?
Plan your journey to the next part of the Llanscape of Wales using our Google Maps Trail:
South Cardiff Ministry Area 