[1] Llanfachreth is a small village near Dolgellau in north west Wales; it was greatly influenced by the local Nannau family.

The village stands on the river Mawddach, at the N foot of Moel-Orthrwm, 3¼ miles NNE of Dolgelly r. station; and has a post office under Corwen, and fairs on 22 April, 30 June, 15 Aug., and 23 Oct.

[3] The town is mentioned in the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales as part of the 6th edition, county of Merioneth.

There are the remnants of a hill fort on Moel offrwm (translated 'Hill of sacrifice'[5]), which is mentioned in the Peniarth Manuscripts where a local Lord named Ophrom Gawr once lived.

[4] Interesting features other than the church and its Lych Gate include a war memorial to local residents who gave their lives in the world wars,[6] and also a mounting block that once stood at the bottom of the steps to the Lych gate once served as a "town cryer" type of meeting place.

[citation needed] Prior to the mid 19th century education for the children of the large parish was haphazard and undertaken by parents, the church or by volunteers and the standard was very low throughout Wales.

[7][8] From the 12th century two families, the Nanneys and the Vaughans, controlled the area that formed the greater part of the parish of Llanfachreth.

Cadwgan, son of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, Prince of Powys in the early 12th century, came into possession of large areas in Merioneth and built Nannau house, a mansion a mile south west of Llanfachreth, which Obert Vaughan of Hengwrt (1592?-1667) later called the stateliest structure in North Wales.

[10] Cadwgan founded a small colony of serfs at Llanfachreth,[11][page needed] his free followers settled the lands surrounding the house.

[12] He was affectionately known as "Yr Hen Syr Robert" and, during this golden age of the estate, he rebuilt Nannau between 1788 and 1796, was elected as MP for Merioneth in 1792, and subsequently re-elected thirteen times, sitting till 1836.

[13] He accomplished much for the area; along with the rebuilding of nearby Dolgellau he financed much renewal of cottages, enclosure walls, houses, roads, fencing and created the precipice walk on the estate.

They include slate roofs curving over dormer windows, for instance, and porches with rounded brick pillars.

This structure (together with that of the South Side) intended to preserve the religion which he loved and practice, and to preserve which in its purity was the constant object of his endeavours, through a reign of unexampled length, were erected in the same year which deprived his people of their Father and Friend, by his dutiful and attached subject, Robert Williames Vaughan"[17] The core village has 80 inhabitants, and the surround farms to about 150, totalling 200 in the village, this makes a small congregation some of which would be Welsh speaking.

The Bishop of Bangor, James Colquhoun Campbell gave the sermon, the day was to coincide with 30 years after the death of Vaughan, the 2nd baronet.