St Ceidio's Church, Rhodogeidio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Ceidio's Church, Rhodogeidio |
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The north side of the church
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| OS grid reference | SH 411 854 |
| Location | Rhodogeidio, near Llannerch-y-medd, Anglesey |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 7th century (first church) Present structure 1845, on the site of a 14th-century church |
| Dedication | St Ceidio |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Disused |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 12 May 1970 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Rubble masonry, slate roof |
St Ceidio's Church, Rhodogeidio is an old church located near Llannerch-y-medd in Anglesey, north Wales. The church building you see today was built in 1845. It used stones and parts from an even older church that stood there since the 14th century. People have worshipped on this spot since the 600s!
Even though it's not used for church services anymore, local people have worked hard to look after it. This church is a Grade II listed building. This means it's a special old building that needs to be protected. It's unique because it looks very similar to the medieval church that was there before it.
Contents
Exploring St Ceidio's Church History
When Was St Ceidio's Church First Built?
The church is named after St Ceidio, a Welsh saint from the 500s. He started many churches in Wales. Experts believe that a church has been on this exact spot since the 600s. One writer from the 1800s, Angharad Llwyd, thought it might have been as early as 630 AD.
The church building from the 1300s was rebuilt in 1845. A rector (a type of church leader) named Hugh Wynne Jones oversaw the work. The new 1845 church used the old foundations and many of the original stones.
How St Ceidio's Church Served Its Community
Long ago, St Ceidio's Church was a "chapel of ease" for Llantrisant church. This meant it was a smaller church built to make it easier for people to attend services if the main church was too far away. Later, in the 1400s, St Mary's Church, Rhodogeidio was built to help St Ceidio's in the same way.
Today, St Ceidio's Church is not used for regular services. St Mary's Church, which is about 1.25 kilometers (0.75 miles) away, is also no longer used and is now in ruins.
Where is St Ceidio's Church Located?
St Ceidio's Church is in the countryside, about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) northwest of Llannerch-y-medd. It sits in a raised, circular churchyard. This type of churchyard is called a llan in Welsh. The area around the church is even named after it! "Rhod-" might come from Rhodwydd, meaning "defended mound." So, Rhodogeidio means "the defended mound of Ceidio."
Discovering St Ceidio's Church Architecture
What is St Ceidio's Church Made Of?
St Ceidio's Church is built from rubble masonry, which means it uses rough, uneven stones. It has smoother stones, called freestone, for details. The roof is made of slate. At the west end, there's a stone bellcote from the 1800s. This is a small structure that holds the church bell. Inside, you can see the wooden roof beams.
Inside St Ceidio's Church: Doors, Windows, and More
You enter the church through a round-shaped doorway on the north wall. Some say this doorway is from the 1300s, while others think it might be from the 1600s. Inside, the main part of the church (the nave) and the area near the altar (the chancel) are not separated by a wall, just a single step.
The church has four windows, all with clear glass. The oldest window is at the east end and dates back to the 1300s. It has one main section of glass with some decorative stone patterns (called tracery) at the top. The other three windows, two on the south wall and one on the north, are from the 1800s. They are rectangular and have a three-leaf shape (a trefoil) at the top.
The wooden benches (pews) and the raised pulpit (where the preacher stands) are from the 1800s. You can also see marble plaques on the walls, which are memorials from the 1700s. The church has an octagonal (eight-sided) font from the 1400s. This is a basin used for baptisms. In 1937, a survey noted an old wooden frame for carrying coffins (a bier) from 1746 and a communion table from around 1700. The church uses paraffin lamps for light because it doesn't have electricity.
Why St Ceidio's Church is Important
Protecting St Ceidio's Church for the Future
St Ceidio's Church is a Grade II listed building. This is the lowest of three levels of protection, but it still means the building is very special. It needs to be preserved for future generations. It was given this protection on May 12, 1970. It's listed because it's a "simple mid-19th century church, unusual in being built closely to the form and detail of its Medieval predecessor." This means it looks a lot like the medieval church that was there before it.
Some writers in the 1800s thought the church was in a "dreary spot." However, a guide to Anglesey churches from 2006 describes it as being in a "pleasant, quiet rural location" with "good views in all directions."
A guide from 2009 calls it a "tiny church in a raised llan in a hilltop circle of trees." It says this is a perfect example of an ancient church location. The east window of St Ceidio's is similar to one found in another Anglesey church, St Caean's Church, Tregaean.
Images for kids
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The east end of the church
