Patricio / Partrishow Church
The Welsh name originates with Merthyr Issui / Isiw (the grave of the martyr Issui / Isiw).
- The Church is high above the valley of the Grwyne Fawr (large river at the wet place) in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). The original rounded graveyard suggests a very early sacred site.
- St. Issui / Isiw / Ishaw / Isho was a Christian hermit who built a small Oratory here and used the well below. Indeed, he probably named the stream Nant Mair (stream of Mary, i.e. the Virgin). According to legend Issui was murdered by a traveller he had helped.
- The consecration of the Church here, as Merthir Issui, by Bishop Herwald (1056-1103) was recorded in the Book of Llandaff. The font is dated c.1055.
- At its west end the Church has a rare Eglwys y Bedd (Church grave), believed to be St. Issui's grave, with an altar, and his statue nearby. This 13th century room, with its own door, has a grille set in the wall between it and the Norman nave. It is recognised as an extremely rare survival of a hermit cell ‐ here where St. Issui lived and died.
- Niches are still visible which were apparently for offerings invoking the saint's help.
- The Church has wall paintings which include a Doom figure, a most solid skeleton with his shovel. The Rood Screen has wonderful carving. The timber roof is marvellous. A hidden gem.
Ffynon St. Issui / St. Isho's Holy Well is at the corner of the lane before the road rises towards the Church. It has a stone basin and niches into which the water flows. Look for the carved stone Maltese Cross. An evocative site where flowers are often left even today. See Zaluckyj pages 244–246.
Allensmore
- Named for the landowner Alan de Plokenet (surname variously spelled) who reclaimed the moor in the 13 th century. His son and heir was also named Alan.
- Usually the King preferred lords and knights to have scattered holdings to prevent the formation of a compact area which could be held against the Crown. In 1299, in the reign of King Edward I, Alan de Plokenet is recorded as holding parcels of land in Berkshire, Oxford, Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Southampton and Herefordshire (around Kilpeck, and including the Castle).
Church: St. Andrew (the Apostle)
- A quiet Church, off the main road, where the earliest surviving part is the Late Norman south doorway. Alan de Plokenet upgraded it and several of these windows survive. It was restored in Jacobean and Victorian times.
- The churchyard cross is interesting. Such crosses in graveyards were used in Medieval times for preaching and as prayer stations for Church Processionals around the Church on, for instance, Easter. Some of these crosses, such as at Weobley, include a small cavity in the base to act as a Holy Sepulchre for Communion Bread, representing Christ, during Holy Saturday between Good Friday (Crucifixion) and Easter Sunday (Resurrection). Other Churches have a small sepulchre set into the chancel wall.
St. Devereux
- There never was a St. Devereux!
- The hamlet's name is probably a result of confusion between the Church dedication to St. Dubricius, that is Dyfrig (see above) and the Devereux family who owned land here.
- Blanche Parry was related to the Devereux family through her aunt Lady Troy (see above).
- Sir Walter Devereux, 1st Viscount Hereford, was grandfather of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. Robert was born near Bromyard, Herefordshire. Beheaded as a traitor.
Church: St. Dubricius / Dyfrig
- Oldest part of this present Church was built in the 13th century.
- The site is very interesting as it is possible its circular earthwork suggests it stands within a prehistoric enclosure. There are prehistoric circular enclosures around Kilpeck Church and Kenderchurch Church. It is certainly possible that St. Dyfrig knew this area as he was reputed to have been born in Madley.
- The Church has an Elizabethan chalice dated 1576. The nave is 13th century, though part may be earlier, the chancel and tower are 14th century but there has been modern restoration. Two of the three bells are 14th century and are inscribed to Scancte Johannes and Sanctus Johannes respectively. The font is c.1500 and most of the interesting monuments and floor-slabs are 17th century.
