Eglwys y Bedd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eglwys y Bedd |
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The entrance to Eglwys y Bedd, through what was once the chancel arch
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| Location | Holyhead, Anglesey |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Website | St Cybi's Church website |
| History | |
| Founded | 14th century |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 26 September 1951 |
Eglwys y Bedd (say "Egg-loo-iss uh Beth") means "Church of the Grave" in Welsh. It's a very old church building in Holyhead, Anglesey, in north Wales. This small building is all that's left of a much larger church from the 1300s. It sits inside the churchyard of St Cybi's Church. People believe it might be where a famous 6th-century saint named Cybi lived. It's also said to be the burial place of Seregri, an Irish warrior from the 400s! This historic building is protected as a Grade II listed building. It even served as Holyhead's first school a long time ago. Today, it is used by St Cybi's Church.
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A Look at Eglwys y Bedd's Past
Eglwys y Bedd is a very old building. It is found in the southwest part of the churchyard of St Cybi's Church. Holyhead is a main port in Anglesey, north Wales. The town's Welsh name, Caergybi, means "the fort of Cybi." This is because a 6th-century Celtic saint named Cybi settled here.
Where Did Saint Cybi Live?
Many people think Eglwys y Bedd might be the exact spot where Saint Cybi lived. He would have lived and worked in a small cell, which is like a tiny room. The building is also inside the walls of an old Roman fort called Caer Gybi.
From Big Church to Small Building
Digging in 1992 showed that another old building was here before. The Eglwys y Bedd we see today was built in the early 1300s. It was once much bigger than it is now. The current building is only the main part, called the nave, of a larger church. The rest of the church is gone.
By 1748, the building was falling apart. A church leader named Thomas Ellis fixed the nave. He turned it into Holyhead's first school! The very front part of the old church, called the chancel, was completely removed in 1810. After more repairs in 1980, Eglwys y Bedd is now used as a room for St Cybi's Church.
The Grave of a Warrior
Legend says that Seregri, an Irish warrior from the 400s, is buried here. He led a group of Irish warriors who lived in Anglesey. But they were driven out by a Welsh ruler named Cadwallon Lawhir ap Einion.
In 1833, a writer named Angharad Llwyd wrote about the church. She said that when parts of Eglwys y Bedd were removed, a stone coffin was found. It was on the north side of the chapel. This coffin held "human bones of a huge size." Many believe these were Seregri's bones.
What Eglwys y Bedd Looks Like
Eglwys y Bedd is about 26 feet 9 inches long and 14 feet 6 inches wide. That's about 8.15 by 4.42 meters. It is built with grey stones. The roof is made of slate.
At the west end, there is a window from the 1300s. Below it, there's a doorway that was blocked up later. The arch at the east end, where the chancel used to be, has fancy decorations from the 1300s. On the north side of the building, you can see two square windows.
Why Eglwys y Bedd is Important
This building is very important to Wales. It is protected by law as a Grade II listed building. This means it's a "building of special interest." Every effort should be made to keep it safe. It was given this special status on September 26, 1951.
