England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa St Michael in the Winds

The Parish

The parish of Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa lies in northern Montgomeryshire, it does not form a stretch of the border with neighbouring Denbighshire despite bordering Llanrhaedr ym Mochnant which is a cross-county parish, and sitting roughly 6 miles west of Llanfyllin. Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa sits at the northern end of the B4382 which runs northwards from Llanfair Caereinion. The main settlement in the parish is rather small with properties lining the B road and up a climbing lane towards the former church. Most of the parish residents lay in smaller hamlets and isolated farmsteads, it being an upland area many were in remote sites. The Afon Efyrnwy forms the southern edge of the parish and both Dolanog and Pontrobert were larger villages than Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa, itself. Much of the parish acreage was deemed as waste in early gazetteers nowadays we would term it upland grazing frequented by hardy sheep, in the valleys were richer pastures with cattle and a few spots were sheltered enough to grow cereals. Despite its small size Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa once held quarterly livestock fairs although that seems to have ceased. Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa is drained eastwards by a combination of the Afon Cain and Afon Efyrnwy which meet at Llansantffraid ym Mechain  with the latter continuing before meeting the Severn, after a rather long journey the Severn eventually reaches the sea through the Bristol Channel. Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa is sited at around 190 metres above the sea and whilst the village is high there is much land in the parish higher with Moel y Fronllwyd summiting at 356 metres to its east. Like most upland parishes the area covered by Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa parish was vast, around 10,000 acre which would have supported a population of around 1,050 parishioners, probably fewer than 30% of whom lived in the village. Like most of Wales Llanfihangel yng Ngwynfa is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Michael's church stands above the village atop a dead-end lane running northeastwards from the B4382. The church has closed very recently due to falling attendances, there was much controversy in 2024 when the former church was put to auction with petitioners anxious to preserve its connections with the composer of the lyric of Cwm Rhondda, Ann Griffiths. In 2025 the church was still closed for worship and was still accessible. Sadly even this much loved building is not the venue for these marriages, that being demolished and today's building completed in 1862 using the newly re-fashionable lancet styled windows. The church is approached by a pathway lined with venerable yews, a few small parking spaces sit immediately outside the gates. The yews lead right to the church's front door within what is otherwise a traditional circular "llan", they do impede the views from the south but all other aspects are readily available to the photographer.