St Erfyl's Church in Llanerfyl was founded originally in the 5th or 6th century but the current structure dates from 1870. The settlement grew up on the Roman road from Neath to Chester. Evidence for the early medieval church can be found in the rounded churchyard, Patriarch Yew and an inscribed gravestone thought to be the earliest Christian artefact in the county. The roughly engraved text on the glacial boulder has been identified as Romano-British but furrows and fissures in the rock make it difficult to decipher. It commemorates the death of a young girl. Much of the fabric of the current church dates from the late 19th century reconstruction but several elements within the church were recovered from the earlier buildings on the site, including the medieval font and shrine. Located near the altar is the remains of a 15th century shrine. Originally recessed into the wall of the medieval church, the screen is oak and is held together with oak pegs. It is though to have originally surrounded a statue, probably to St Erfyl. Three painted panels of the original west gallery hang in the chancel. Dating from 1727, the panels are almost certainly unique in Wales in their style and the figures depicted within. The outer panels feature Moses and At Peter with the 10 Commandments, the Baptism of Christ and the Crucifixion. The central panel depicts the Battle of Heaven, complete with the Madonna and Child, a dragon and text from Revelation.
Evidence for the early medieval church can be found in the rounded churchyard, Patriarch Yew and an inscribed gravestone thought to be the earliest Christian artefact in the county.
The roughly engraved text on the glacial boulder has been identified as Romano-British but furrows and fissures in the rock make it difficult to decipher. It commemorates the death of a young girl.
Much of the fabric of the current church dates from the late 19th century reconstruction but several elements within the church were recovered from the earlier buildings on the site, including the medieval font and shrine.
Located near the altar is the remains of a 15th century shrine. Originally recessed into the wall of the medieval church, the screen is oak and is held together with oak pegs. It is though to have originally surrounded a statue, probably to St Erfyl.
Three painted panels of the original west gallery hang in the chancel. Dating from 1727, the panels are almost certainly unique in Wales in their style and the figures depicted within. The outer panels feature Moses and At Peter with the 10 Commandments, the Baptism of Christ and the Crucifixion. The central panel depicts the Battle of Heaven, complete with the Madonna and Child, a dragon and text from Revelation.