Eglwys Ysbyty Cynfyn Church

Ysbyty Cynfyn Church is situated next to an old metal mine, Temple Mine and the records that survive from these times talk about the owners and mine managers but fail to mention the names of the miners themselves. The Metal Links Project saw the opportunity to work with the local community to survey the gravestones that could then be used to search census records that could tell us more about who was buried there and their families.Throughout 2013 volunteers from the local community worked with the Project to transcribe, take photographs, record condition and decoration of all the moments. This has resulted in a comprehensive study of the site. From all the graves recorded only one had a mention of a link with the mine. However through census work we now know about a third have a mining connection which means we can finally start peopling the landscape. It also showed us how much people moved around the UK looking for work in mine sites, with one family travelling all the way from Cornwall. The project has been successful in bringing the community together but also helping them to understand their local church better.