England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Cyffic St Cyffig

The Parish

The parish of Cyffic lies in the extreme west of Carmarthenshire forming a lengthy stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Pembrokeshire. Cyffic is located roughly 2 miles south of the small town of Whitland and stands a mile north of the A477 road which links St Clears with Pembroke. There is no village of Cyffic whatsoever and no mention of the name on today's Ordnance Survey mapping. The church stands alone on an east to west running lane and most of the parish reside in farmsteads and cottages dotted across its extensive area. Much of the land is used for pastoral farming with cattle the main livestock, there are a few pockets of arable in sheltered areas. Cyffic is drained northwards by a small brook which soon meets the Afon Taf at Whitland, from here water heads eastwards and then south to meet the outer Bristol Channel at Laugharne. Cyffic is sited at around 140 metres above the sea at its church but the parish covers ground rising from 15 metres at the Taf to 205 metres on the small summit of Brandy Hill, the terrain is rolling countryside with relatively steep sided valleys. Covering a little under 4,600 acres Cyffic parish was extensive and would have supported almost 500 parishioners dispersed across that acreage. Like most of Wales Cyffic is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Cyffig's church sits on the upper slopes of Brandy Hill on a narrow lane running eastwards from the B4328 (Whitland to Tavernspite) road it stands alone surrounded by rolling pastures and thick hedges. Whilst the western tower is the most striking feature of the church it is not the oldest fabric in the church. Both nave and chancel appear to have been constructed during the latter half of the 14th century and then increased in height during the 15th, the style being that of the Perpendicular. Pevsner does not indicate the dating of the northern aisle, which is substantial, saying only that it was a later addition. Since the western tower is placed at its northern end it must pre-date the tower which carries Tudor era details of the 16th century. The tower seems oversized in relation to the rest of the church and comes complete with a northwestern stair turret and a corbelled parapet. Internally there are no floors to the tower which is therefore hollow and a strange sight. Like most churches there was a significant Victorian restoration which fell between 1889 & 1891 which was at least sensitive to the original styling of the church. The lane passing the church is very narrow and bearing so little traffic there is a grass centre to it, opposite the churchyard a verge, often muddy, serves to get off-road for parking. The churchyard is open and uncluttered with no obstacles whatsoever for the photographer.