The Parish Church of St Aelrhiw, stands on the eastern side of Rhiw mountain, well to the north of the village. The building has boulder built walls and a slate roof. The structure is of one build, probably in the 18^th century but on the footings of an earlier church, perhaps transeptal. The present unusual plan is the same as that described in the earliest terrier, of 1776. It consists of a small nave and a short chancel of equal width, with relatively large transepts or aisles to N, and S. In the E. and W. end walls are indications of earlier openings at a lower level. The roof trusses and furnishing belong to extensive restoration in 1860-61.

Fittings; (1960) Chest: plain, inscribed 1715 / W / RH / WI; 18^th century. Memorial; slab, re-set against inner face of W. wall, to Lowry, daughter of Thomas ap Richard of Bodwythog, 1674, also her husband Frederick Wynne of Bobvean; above, a shield-of-arms, Collwyn ap Tangno (for Wynne of Boduan), with crescent for difference, and a skull and cross-bone. Plate; Silver cup, plain straight-sided bowl inscribed ‘Rhiw / This was provided by / Frederick Wynne Warden / Anno Dni 1672’; maker’s mark GB and London date-letter for 1671-2; height 6 ins Pewter flagon, inscribed ‘This was provided by Frederick Wyome (sic) for the / Parish Church of Rhiw Anno Domini 1662’.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For name ‘Aelrhiw’, Baring-Gould and Fisher, I, p. 112. The dedication recorded by Browne Willis, A Survey of the Cathedral Church of Bangor (London 1721), p. 274, to St. Eelrhyw or Delwfyw, may be compared with ‘Y Ddelw Fyw’ (‘The Living Image’ or Holy Rood) of Mold, celebrated in 15^th-century verse. The feast of dedication given by Browne Willis (Sept. 9) is the same in both cases. A church is known from ca. 1254, Valuation of Norwich, pp. 190-1; in 1535, Valor Ecclesiasticus, IV, p. 420; VI, pp. xiv, xviii, xxii, xxxiii, Hanes Eglwysi, p. 246. Previously described, in 1858, by Glynne, Arch Camb., 1900, p. 320.