Llanarmon Dyffrin Ceiriog and Llanrhaedr Ym Monchant

Llanarmon Dyffrin Ceiriog, Wales

The llan of Saint Garmon

This is the same Garmon of St Germans, Cornwall who came to counteract Palagian heresy. He came over from Auxerres in France.

We are sitting in the church yard in the very early morning sun as the church is locked. Mountains rise up all around us. It is noticeable that the church is on a circular llan and situated by the river. It is a typical site chosen by Celtic Christians.

In the field beside the church a large flock of sheep with lambs are bleating loudly and wildly. After a while when they don’t settle I realise something prophetic is unfolding and settle to watch.The sheep without a shepherd are hungry and crying out. There is no sign of a shepherd coming, yet they seem to be waiting for him, desperate in their crying. Occasionally, when a person walks by the field on the road, they rush over to hedge en masse, only to be disappointed and cry all the more. Some are lame but all are in need, restless and not at peace.

I am reminded of the tender verses in Isaiah when God cares for those with young. It’s echoed in Handel’s Messiah. Isaiah 40:11

'He tends His flock like a shepherd

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart

he gently leads those with young'.

The cry begins to feel distressing and my heart hurts. It reflects the state of people and I can feel the parallel strongly. People are hurting, crying out, hungry but don’t know how to be fed or where to go. Kindness and tenderness are in short supply. 

Suddenly a man comes along the road. All the sheep recognise him, rushing forward as he puts down their feed. Instantly they are quiet, no longer calling in distress but peaceful having their needs met.

The whole field has transformed. Gaggles of lambs are now happily racing, and the mother ewes graze contentedly. The transformation is virtually instant. 

So many Bible verses come to mind. Psalm 23, He is the Good Shepherd who leads the sheep beside still waters and green pastures.

'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want

He makes me lie down in green pastures

He leads me beside still waters

He restores my soul'

Jeremiah 3:14ff 'I am your husband. I will choose you- one from a town and two from a clan- and bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.'

I found it very poignant.

In the same churchyard, there is a raised round mound known as Garmon Tamon. This is where Garmon stood preaching the gospel. I’ve not heard of the Celtic Christians doing this before. It reminds me of the later Methodist preachers who were known for having preaching posts outside.

 Pistyll Rhaedr

In the very early morning we had visited the highest waterfall in Wales and England, Pistyll Rhaeadr. The Celtic monks were drawn to live and pray in these places. It was a spectacular and awe inspiring sight.

St Dogfan Church, Llanraeadr ym Monchant

Afterwards we travelled on, over a mountain pass,  to Llanraeadr ym Monchant and called in to St Dogfan church. It too is on his original Llan surrounded by a circular churchyard and bordered by a stream. He was another of King Brychan’s sons and founded a prayer hermitage here, living a life of denial and service.

Interestingly Rev William Morgan vicar here from 1578-1588,  translated the Bible into Welsh. Is this an ancient Celtic well/portal reopening? I find the link compelling.

It was so easy to worship and pray in this church. There is a beautiful presence of God. As we are worshipping, I sense angels dancing in joy around the church. We can't linger as long as we hope but are greatly impacted by the short visit.

I am taken aback by the stained glass window. It is depicting exactly the prophetic sense I had earlier when the sheep were crying out. It even quotes the same Bible verses. It felt like God underlining the need to pray for people to find the Good Shepherd and for more Godly leaders to be raised up to pastor them.