St Eigon’s is the parish church of Llanigon, a village about 3 km south-west of Hay. Sited at the edge of the village, the church is surrounded by a graveyard of lichen-covered tombstones and with ancient yew trees.

Originally 13th century, the building was much restored in the Victorian era and again after bomb damage in WWII. The interior is simple with a long aisle, white painted walls and few monuments. A far cry from the 1805 description of the nave as ‘bedaubed with caricatures of death and time’. The oldest part of the church is the 14th century porch. Unusually, this has a bell-chamber directly above it. As you enter the church, look up!

The dedication is disputed. The nicer story claims that the dedicatee is Eigen, the daughter of King Caractacus, hero of British resistance to the Roman invasion of 43 BC. Caractacus was captured and, with his family, taken to Rome where he made such an impression that he was pardoned and allowed to live in peace in the city until his death. The family are believed to have returned to Britain, specifically to Llanigon, where Eigen – who had become a Christian in Rome – founded the present church. The alternative and duller story proposes that the church is in fact dedicated to Eigion, brother of St Cynidr, dedicatee of the neighbouring church in Glasbury.

Whatever the truth, it is a lovely church of great interest, peace, and a real sense of the Presence set in a quiet village setting.

For times of services at St Eigon’s, see the ‘Calendar of Services’ on this website.