Coordinates: 52°10′47″N 3°57′24″W / 52.1796°N 3.9568°W
| Llanddewi Brefi | |
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  Llanddewi Brefi
Llanddewi Brefi shown within Wales |
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| OS grid reference | |
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| Principal area | Ceredigion |
| Ceremonial county | Dyfed |
| Constituent country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| European Parliament | Wales |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Ceredigion | |
Llanddewi Brefi (Welsh pronunciation: [ɬanˈðɛwi ˈbrɛvi]) is a village of approximately 500 people in Ceredigion, Wales.
In the 6th century Saint David (in Welsh, Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales, held the Synod of Brefi here and it has borne his name since; "Llan" referring in Welsh place names to a church or holy place. The parish church is dedicated to St. David and contains a modern statue of him.
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History and description
Llanddewi Brefi (Welsh, meaning 'Church of David on the [River] Brefi', the Brefi being a tributary of the River Teifi[1]) is one of the largest parishes in Wales. Its parish church dates from the 12th century, on a site associated with religious worship since the 7th century. Fragments of much older buildings are incorporated into the Norman church. The church holds a collection of Celtic crosses. When the Synod of Brefi was held in the village in the sixth century, it is said that the small hill upon which the church stands marks the spot where the ground was miraculously raised up under St David so that he could be heard better at this Synod.
In addition to the Anglican Church, there is a non-conformist chapel, two pubs and one village shop. The village and the surrounding area are largely Welsh-speaking and the local economy is dominated by sheep and dairy farming.
In 1977 the village was the scene of one of the world's biggest ever raids involving the drug LSD. Over 6 million tabs of the drug were seized as part of Operation Julie on March 26 of that year.
In fiction
The Little Britain character, Daffyd Thomas, lives in a village with a subtly different name, Llandewi Breffi.
References
- ^ R. J. Thomas, Enwau Afonydd a Nentydd Cymru (University of Wales Press, 1938. Reprinted: ISBN 07083 03315), pp. 129-130.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Llanddewi Brefi |
- 20 minute BBC film about the village
- Operation Julie on BBC Online
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Llanddewi Brefi and surrounding area
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