St Enghenedl's Church, Llanynghenedl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Enghenedl's Church, Llanynghenedl |
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The interior of the former church
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| OS grid reference | SH316809 |
| Location | Llanynghenedl, Anglesey |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Previous denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | c.620 |
| Dedication | Enghenedl |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Demolished |
| Architect(s) | Henry Kennedy (1862) |
| Completed | 1862, replacing a 13th/14th-century church |
| Demolished | 1988 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 43 ft 6 in (13.3 m) |
| Width | 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) |
St Enghenedl's Church was an old church located in Llanynghenedl, a village in Anglesey, north Wales. It was named after Enghenedl, who was the son of a king from the 6th century. People believe the very first church here was built around the year 620.
In 1862, a new church building was put up. This new church replaced an older one that was built in the late 1200s or early 1300s. Over time, the nearby village of Valley grew much bigger. Because of this, St Enghenedl's Church was used less and less. In 1988, the church was carefully taken apart. Its parts were then used to make an extension for St Mihangel's Church. This helped St Mihangel's become the main church for RAF Valley. The old churchyard of St Enghenedl's can still be seen today.
Contents
History of the Church
The old site of St Enghenedl's Church is in the village of Llanynghenedl. This is in the northwest part of Anglesey, about 4 miles east of Holyhead. Not much is known about Saint Enghenedl himself. He was one of the sons of Cynan Garwyn, who was a king in the late 500s. This church is the only one known to be named after Enghenedl. His special day was celebrated on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The village name, Llanynghenedl, comes from the church. The Welsh word llan means "church" or "enclosure."
Building and Rebuilding
An expert from the 1800s, Angharad Llwyd, said that the first church was built here around 620. The church was rebuilt in 1862 by Henry Kennedy. He was an architect for the Diocese of Bangor. Later, another church was built in the growing village of Valley. As Valley became more important, St Enghenedl's Church was used less and eventually closed.
In 1988, the church was taken down. It was then rebuilt as an addition to St Mihangel's Church, Llanfihangel yn Nhowyn. This allowed St Mihangel's to serve as the church for RAF Valley. St Enghenedl's was added to the west side of St Mihangel's. The old east window of St Enghenedl's now faces west. The bell tower is now in the middle of the roof. The churchyard, old gravestones, and the gate (called a lychgate) of St Enghenedl's are still in their original spot.
Church Design and Features
Before the 1862 rebuilding, a clergyman named Harry Longueville Jones wrote about the church. He said it was about 40 feet long and 14 feet wide inside. It had a main area (the nave) and a smaller area for the altar (the chancel). He thought the south doorway was from the late 1200s or early 1300s because of its decorations. He also noted that the font, which is a basin used for baptisms, was from the 1100s. It had a design similar to other fonts in Anglesey. The east window had two sections of glass.
In 1937, a survey of the rebuilt church was done. It said the church was about 43.5 feet long and 15.5 feet wide. At that time, the church was in good condition. You entered through a porch on the south side. There was also a small room (a vestry) on the north side. Besides the font, the church had some memorials from the 1700s. The old font is now in St Cybi's Church, Holyhead.
Church Silverware
In 1906, a survey of church silverware in the Bangor area was made. It listed a silver chalice, which is a cup used in church services. It was about 7.6 inches tall. It had a mark from Chester, showing it was made between 1724 and 1725. The cup had the names of the vicar and two church leaders, along with the year 1724. It was described as looking like an upside-down bell. There was also a plain silver cover for the cup, called a paten. It was about 3.6 inches across. Both pieces had the mark of the maker, William Richardson. The paten also had a leopard's head mark, meaning it was tested in London.
What People Thought of the Church
Angharad Llwyd described the church in 1833 as "a lofty but small edifice." She also said that some parts showed "marks of very great antiquity." This means they looked very old. Harry Longueville Jones said that its size made it "one of the least considerable" churches in Anglesey. Sir Stephen Glynne, a politician and church historian, visited the church in 1873. He said it was a small church with "some small rude (rood)windows."
