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Cusop

Nearest town: Hay-on-Wye

Site type: churchyard

Access: Public

Church name: St Mary (Cewydd)

Diocese: Hereford

County: Herefordshire

Country: England

Grid ref: SO24014154

Lost yew site: No

Date visited: 18-Aug-99

Recorded by: Tim Hills

Protection & responsibility: Parochial Church Council

Yews recorded at this site: Ancient 4m-5m, Ancient 5m-7m, Ancient 7m+

Notes: Peter Norton: The original dedication of St Mary's Church, Cusop was to the Welsh saint, St Cewydd, the Welsh Rain Saint. In fact the name Cusop is derived from Cewydd. Cewydd was the son of Caw of Prydyn (Pict Land) whose family, having been expelled from their territory in North Britain, sought refuge in Wales. Cewydd remains the patron of churches in Aberedw and Disserth. The presence of the magnificent, ancient yew trees in the churchyard raises the probability that the church was built on a former Pagan site; yew trees were considered to be symbols of fertility and immortality in Pagan times (Church History). Traces of early 12th century fabric can still be found, although nothing older remains.

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