St Cynhaearn
St Cynhaearn's Church is situated approximately 0.9km south of the village of Pentrefelin on the approach to Criccieth from Porthmadog. Once upon a time it stood on an island, Ynys Cynhaearna, surrounded by a lake, Llyn Ystumilyn, which was fed in the past by the River Cedron. The river became blocked by a shingle bank and was diverted in the 18 century by the then land owner. The lake was subsequently drained leaving the church high and dry on a mound. No longer used for regular worship, the church was taken into the care of Friends of Friendless Churches in 2003.
St Cynhaeaern to whom the church is dedicated was a 5th century monk. He was a cousin and disciple of St Beuno.
It was originally the parish church for Porthmadog.
The knave is believed to date from the 12 Century. The transept was added in the 16* Century.
The interior fittings are believed to date from 1832 and are Georgian in style.
The pulpit consists of three decks with nine steps and incorporates a lectern, with a reading shelf, below which is the readers desk.
There are box pews to the each side of the altar.
There is a gallery supported by slender columns but this is currently closed for restoration work'
The chamber organ was given by a Mrs Walker at a cost of £30 in 1834. It was manufactured by Flight and Robson.
Either side of the organ are 6 pews, steeply raked and some bearing names of the families who used them and one curtained so that mothers might feed their babies.
The font was installed in 1900 and stands on an octagonal limestone pillar.
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There are several interesting memorials including one to James Spooner (1790-1856) who was the surveyor who built the Festiniog Railway.
Also commemorated is John Ystumilyn, also known as Jac Du or Jack Black (1738 -1786) who, according to rumour, may have been kidnapped from West Africa or The West Indies by a member of the Wynn family of Ystumllyn Estate. He worked in the gardens at the estate but met and ran away to marry a local girl, Margaret Gruffydd. Five of their seven children survived and it is recorded that several of their descendants were still living in the Criccieth area in 2019. After a period of working away, Jack and Margaret returned to the employment of the Wynn family. They were respected and valued servants and, at some point which I know not, they were given a large garden and cottage at Y Nhyra Isa (or Y Nhyra Ddu) by one Edwin Wynn in recognition of their services. Earlier this year, a rose bred by Harkness Roses of Hertfordshire was named after him. His headstone can be found at St Cynhaearn's.
Also at rest here is David Owen (1712-1741). Being resident at Garreg Wen Farm near Morfa Bychan, he was widely known as Dafydd y Garreg Wen (David of The White Rock) and it is claimed that this local, blind composer and harpist, when lying on his death bed, called for his Harp and, before expiring, wrote the tune "Dafydd y Garreg Wen". Words were added to this tune more than a hundred years later by the poet John Ceiriog Hughes. Bedd Dafydd (David's Grave) is situated to the right halfway from the Lych Gate to the Church.
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