Description

Photography by John Ball - 2 October 2002 (scanned from colour prints taken with a Sigma SA-300 35mm single lens reflex camera).

In September 2002, I received an e-mail from a client in North Carolina, USA, asking me to photograph the parish church at Llanafan and the graves of some of his ancestors. I visited Llanafan early in October 2002 in overcast but dry conditions. Unfortunately, I was unable to gain access to the interior of the church. The images featured on this webpage are selected from the portfolio of 48 photographs sent to my client.

Image 1:

Noticeboard in the lych-gate entrance, identifying the church and Y Parchedig (the vicar), the Reverend A. C. Sully.

Image 2:

Church viewed from the west, showing the lych-gate entrance to the churchyard.A lych-gate is a roofed gateway to a churchyard, originally used prior to a burial for sheltering the coffin until the arrival of the clergyman. The stone wall surrounding the older part of the churchyard defines its circular shape, possibly betraying pre-Christian origins.

Image 3:

The west end of the church showing the west window, bell tower, and south porch.

Image 4, 5:

The bell tower (Image 4) and south porch (Image 5).

Image 6:

Steps leading to the entrance to the vestry on the south side of the church. The south porch is beyond the wooden bench.

Image 7:

Ancient yew tree in the north-eastern section of the churchyard. The size of the trunk suggests the tree is probably 600 to 800 years old.

Image 8:

Parish church, viewed from south-west entrance to the churchyard.

Image 9:

The Bonsall graves.The graves I photographed are situated in this large rectangular burial plot to the south-east of the church. The plot is surrounded by a low concrete kerb. There are 12 graves, most of which belong to the Bonsall family (see the two examples below).

Image 10, 11:

Two of the Bonsall graves (see inscriptions below).  

Image 10:

In Memory of
SIR THOMAS BONSALL, Knight
late of Fronfraith in this County
who died
on the 24th day of May 1808
aged 67 years.
The benevolence of his mind
displayed itself in all its actions.
In his religion
He was exemplary
His integrity and uprightness
as a Magistrate
procured him the esteem and Veneration
of all men
and in the social and domestic virtues
which constitute the
Friend husband and parent
He was seldom equalled.

Image 11:

In
Memory of
WILLIAM BONSALL Esqr. M.D.
Son of
Sir THOMAS and Lady BONSALL
Who died July 1st 1824
Aged 43 Years.
His humour and charitable disposition,
Manifestly exemplified
In the gratuitous exercise of his talents
As a Physician
Will long endear his memory
To the afflicted and desolate.
His suavity of manners and unassuming conduct
His unsullied integrity and warm affection
Will remain indelibly recorded
In the bosom of his friends and relatives.

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