St. Peter's, Llanbedr has a circular churchyard. As is common with Radnorshire there are no burials on the north side, as this was the devil's territory! In the church porch is a 13th century holy water stoup. The long nave dates from the 14th century and the chancel from the 15th century. The west bellcote has two undated bells. Our registers go back to 1726, further information on the Genuki site. The church lies out in the country away from the village of Painscastle which clusters around Painscastle Castle which gives the village it's name.
The font is Norman and near it, on the north wall, is an 1879 plan for re-seating the church. This was completed in the early 1880's, when the pews and nave roof were replaced. In the last decade there have been many more improvements to the furnishings of this delightful church.
Kilvert's diary of 3rd July 1872 describes meeting the Rev. John Price, the solitary, vicar 1859 - 95. He was an eccentric with saintly qualities. His grave is sign-posted in the churchyard. When he came to Llanbedr Painscastle there was no vicarage and at first he lived in an old cottage, then some bathing huts and finally a former hen house. He ministered faithfully to his parishioners and to vagrants and his needs were small but his charity boundless. To give but one example, every Sunday he paid a small sum to those attending his 'tramps-only' service. During his sermon they cooked their lunch on the oil-heating stoves in the pews, afterwards eating it in a barn made available by a local farmer. He died in 1895, aged 85, mourned by all.
Kilvert's diary for 7th February 1872, also recalls an earlier curate, the Rev. W. Williams, 1813-33, who was known as 'Parson Button'. Though a good preacher, he was a very drunken man who often fought at Clyro on his way home from Hay on Wye. In his sermons he used to say, “My brethren, don't you do as I do, but you do as I say.”
The Painscastle Group.