St Padarn's Church, Llanbadarn Fawr

St Padarn's Church
Eglwys Sant Padarn
St Padarn's Church
OS grid reference	SN 599809
Location	Llanbadarn Fawr, Ceredigion
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church in Wales
History
Dedication	Saint Padarn
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II* listed building (8720)
Designated	12 December 1952
Years built	1257
Administration
Parish	Llanbadarn Fawr and Elerch and Penrhyncoch and Capel Bangor
Deanery	Llanbadarn Fawr
Archdeaconry	Cardigan
Diocese	Diocese of St David's

Saint Padarn's Church is a parish church of the Church in Wales, and the largest mediaeval church in mid-Wales.

Founded in the early sixth century, St Padarn's Church has gone through many changes, from a Welsh monastic centre (a clas), a Benedictine priory, a clas again, a royal rectory, a church controlled by Chester’s Vale Royal Abbey, and since 1538 a parish church under a vicar. It is at Llanbadarn Fawr, near Aberystwyth, in Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom.

Although its origins are obscure, the site of the present ancient church has been used for Christian worship since it was settled in the early sixth century, probably by Saint Padarn, after whom it was named. Much of the early history of the church must remain speculative rather than definitive, due the absence of documentary or archaeological evidence. However, there are certain elements which are reasonably clear.

Whilst the exact date Saint Padarn founded the church is uncertain, it seems clear however that Llanbadarn Fawr was an early sixth-century foundation, a Celtic clas church. The church may have been the seat of an abbot or bishop during the years immediately following Saint Padarn, who was traditionally said to be its first bishop (as a clas church, it was not a cathedral as we understand the term today, but closer to a collegiate church), nor did it necessarily possess any substantial buildings. It was one of the leading clasau of early Christian Wales, and the one we know most about, partly because of the significant role it played as a literary centre.