St Cwyfan's Church, Llangwyfan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Cwyfan's Church |
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Eglwys Cwyfan (Welsh)
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| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Medieval |
St Cwyfan's Church (which is Eglwys Cwyfan in Welsh) is a very old church in Llangadwaladr, Anglesey, Wales. It's a special building because it's located on a tiny tidal island called Cribinau. People often call it the "Little Church in the Sea" (or Eglwys fach y môr in Welsh) because of this. The church was built a long, long time ago, in the 12th century, and was fixed up a bit in the 1800s. It's also a Grade II* building, which means it's very important historically.
Contents
The Little Church in the Sea: Its Story
How St Cwyfan's Church Began
St Cwyfan's Church was built in the 12th century. It is named after Saint Kevin, who started a monastery in Ireland. When it was first built, the church was on a piece of land that stuck out into the sea, between two bays called Porth Cwyfan and Porth China.
Becoming an Island Church
Over many years, the sea slowly wore away the land around the church. This erosion eventually cut off the peninsula, turning Cribinau into a small tidal island. A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland only when the tide is low. To help people get to the church, a special path called a causeway was built. This causeway allowed local people to walk to the church when the tide was out.
A Protest for Language
In 1766, a priest named Thomas Bowles was put in charge of the church. The problem was that he didn't speak Welsh, but almost all of the 500 church-goers did. They protested his appointment because they couldn't understand his sermons. In 1773, a court decided that priests who spoke Welsh should be sent to parishes where most people spoke Welsh. This was an important decision for the Welsh-speaking community.
Saving the Church from the Sea
The sea kept eroding the island, and by the late 1800s, some of the graves around the church started falling into the water. The church itself became old and damaged, with its walls crumbling and no roof. A new church was built further inland to replace it.
However, in 1893, a local architect named Harold Hughes decided to save the old church. He raised money to build a strong seawall around Cribinau. This wall protected the island and the church from the waves. He also helped to fix up the church building itself, bringing it back to life.
Current Use of St Cwyfan's Church
Today, St Cwyfan's Church is still used. It's a very popular place for special events like weddings and baptisms. Its unique location makes it a memorable spot for these important occasions.
