JUST one mile from Corwen, between the rivers of the Dee and Alwen, a church awaits to take you back to another age.
Inside is a painted 17th century figure of death, old beams, box pews, pulpit and a minstrels' gallery. Welcome to Llangar Church.
LLANGAR Church is surrounding by mystery and legend, Natalie Jones meets up with Geraint Jones, a Cadw employee who spends the warmer months showing the public around this idyllic little church.
The exact year of when Llangar Church is unknown, but the earliest documentation dates back to 1291, when a tax document valued the building at £4.
“But according to the experts, the style and shape of the font in the church takes it back 200 years - to the 1000’s,” said Mr Jones, who lives in Corwen.
“Inside there are medieval paintings which date back to the 1300’s.
“So we don’t really know the exact date it was built.”
The church was originally named Llan Garw Gwyn - The Church of The White Deer.
According to legend an alternative location was first chosen for the church, builders would work all day, but at night the site was destroyed.
The builders turned to a local holy man who told them the site was not ‘appropriate to God’.
“The builders were told they must look out for a white stag, and the first time they see one that is where they shall built it,” said Mr Jones.
“The church is built on the junction of where the River Alwen meets the River Dee, so it is a sacred site.”
Llangar was closed in 1854, when a new church was built in Cynwyd, it stood empty from then until Cadw took it over in 1967.
Cadw carried out conservation work on the church, opening it up to the public in 1991.
“The church is still congregates, services are held there with permission by Cadw,” said Mr Jones.
“Although no weddings or funerals can be held there.
“The last funeral was in 1907.”
The church also has a number of claim to fames.
The first involves the author - John Cowper Powys, who moved to Corwen in 1935.
He ‘immersed’ himself in Welsh literature, mythology and culture, and learnt to read Welsh.
Whilst sat in Llangar Church’s graveyard he wrote the novel - Owen Glendower, whilst was published in 1941.
The second claim to fame comes courtesy of a former reactor of the church Edward Samuels who died in 1748.
His grandson was a famous name - David Samuels, who was a surgeon on board the Endeavour with Captain Cook on his first voyage of discovery, to Australia and New Zealand from 1769 to 1771.
David Samuels is buried in the chapel in Fleet Street, London.
Llangar Church is open to the public from Easter to October, two hours a day, five days a week.
The chapel works in conjunction with Rhug Chapel, which is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am - 5pm.
Tickets, maps and information is available from Rhug, no need to book.
For further information contact Cadw on 014743 336000.