Church Island (Anglesey) facts for kids
Church Island, also known as Llandysilio Island, is a small island in the Menai Strait. It sits off the coast of Anglesey, a larger island in Wales. You can reach Church Island by walking across a short path called a causeway. This path is only open when the tide is low.
The most important building on the island is St Tysilio's Church. This old church was built in the 1400s. Around the church is a graveyard and a special war memorial. Many famous people are buried here, including a poet from the 1900s named Cynan. The Anglesey Coastal Path, a long walking trail, goes right past the start of the causeway.
Many birds live around the island and in its waters. In spring, the island also becomes golden with lots of primroses.
Exploring Church Island
Church Island is found in the Menai Strait, which is a narrow stretch of water. It is located near the town of Menai Bridge on the south-eastern side of Anglesey. The water around the island, especially to the south, can have strong and fast-moving tides. This area is known as the Swellies.
You can get to the island by walking across a short path called a causeway. This path is only available when the tide is out. The causeway connects to the Wales Coast Path, a long walking route around the coast of Wales. The closest road is the A545. From there, you can walk through a woodland path to reach the island's causeway.
The main building on the island is St Tysilio's Church. It is a single-room church. Next to it is the churchyard, where people are buried. There is also a war memorial on the island's highest point. This memorial was designed by Harold Hughes. It was given a special "grade-II listing" in 1997, meaning it is an important historical building.
A Look at History
The early story of Church Island is not fully known. We do not know exactly when the causeway to Anglesey was built. The first person recorded living on the island was Prince Tysilio. He later became known as Saint Tysilio. Tysilio was the son of a king named Brochwel Ysgithrog from the Kingdom of Powys.
Tysilio came to Church Island around the year 630 AD. He started a hermitage there, which is a quiet place for religious retreat. He stayed on the island for about seven years. After that, he moved to a place called Meifod and became an abbot, a leader in a monastery. Today, there are no signs left of Tysilio's original hermitage on Church Island.
The church you see today, Saint Tysilio's Church, was built in the 1400s. We do not know who built it. It is likely that it replaced an older church that stood in the same spot. Many important people are buried in the churchyard. These include Henry Rees Davies and his father Richard Davies. Also buried there is John Edward Lloyd and the famous poet Albert Evans-Jones, who was known as Cynan.
Plants and Animals
Many different birds can be seen near Church Island. These include oystercatchers, curlews, and terns. More recently, Little Egrets have also been spotted.
The island is also home to many primroses. These pretty flowers grow in large numbers. In the spring months, they give the island a beautiful golden color.
Images for kids
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Church Island from Anglesey
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See also
In Spanish: Isla Church para niños
