St Fflewin's Church, Llanfflewin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Fflewin's Church, Llanfflewin |
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A view from the south-east
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| OS grid reference | SH 349 890 |
| Location | Llanfflewin, Anglesey |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 630 (reputedly) Earliest dateable feature of present building is 18th-century |
| Founder(s) | St Fflewin (reputedly) |
| Dedication | St Fflewin |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 12 May 1970 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 47 ft 6 in (14.5 m) |
| Width | 14 ft 9 in (4.5 m) |
| Materials | Rubble masonry |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Llanfechell with Bodewryd with Rhosbeirio with Llanfflewin and Llanbadrig |
| Deanery | Twrcelyn |
| Archdeaconry | Bangor |
| Diocese | Diocese of Bangor |
| Province | Province of Wales |
St Fflewin's Church in Llanfflewin, Anglesey, Wales, is a small church located next to a farm. People say the first church here was built by St Fflewin around 630 AD. However, the building you see today was mostly built in the 1700s. It does have some older parts, like a stone font from the 1300s or 1400s and a piece of an old gravestone.
The church is still used for worship by the Church in Wales. It is considered a Grade II listed building. This means it is a special building that should be protected. Experts describe it as a "simple rural church built on Medieval foundations." A guide from 2006 called it a "typical, well-preserved rural church and is well worth a visit."
Contents
The Church's Long History
The church is named after St Fflewin, a Christian who lived in the 500s. He was the son of Ithel Hael, who came to Britain from what is now northern France. St Fflewin is believed to have started a Christian site here in 630 AD. However, no parts of a building from that time still exist today.
We know there was a church here by 1254. The current building is thought to be built on older foundations. The oldest parts you can see today are from the late 1700s. The church was repaired in the early 1800s and then partly rebuilt in 1864. More restoration work happened in the 1930s.
Famous People Connected to the Church
A Welsh poet and clergyman named Morris Williams was the rector (the main priest) here from 1859 until he passed away in 1874. He was also known by his bardic name, "Nicander." He is buried in Llanrhuddlad, another church he looked after.
Where is St Fflewin's Church Located?
The church is in a quiet, isolated area of northern Anglesey, next to a farm. It's about one mile from Llanrhuddlad. This area of Anglesey is called Mynydd Mechell. The village of Llanfflewin gets its name from the church. The Welsh word llan originally meant "enclosure" and then "church." So, "Llanfflewin" means "Church of Fflewin."
The church is surrounded by a raised circular area. It has an arched gate, called a lychgate, which might be from the 1600s. St Fflewin's Church is still an active place of worship. It is part of a group of five churches in the Church in Wales.
What Does the Church Look Like?
St Fflewin's Church is small and shaped like a rectangle. Inside, there is no wall separating the main area (the nave) from the altar area (the chancel). The church is about 47 feet long and 14 feet wide.
It is built from rough stones called rubble masonry, and the roof is made of slate. At the west end of the roof, there is a small bell tower with a pointed top. You can see the wooden beams of the roof from inside the church.
Inside the Church
You enter the church through a porch with a rounded arch on the south side. There is also a small room called a vestry on the north side, which has one window.
The windows on the south and north walls are rectangular. The window in the east wall is rounded at the top and has two sections. In the sill of this window, there is a piece of an old gravestone from after 1300. It has the words HIC IACET MADOCUS carved into it, which means "Here lies Madoc."
The church has a stone font, which is used for baptisms. It has nine sides and is from the 1300s or 1400s. There are also several slate memorial tablets on the walls from the 1700s. In 1937, a survey noted other old items. These included a bier (a stand for a coffin) from 1784, and a silver cup with a cover from 1574. There was also a wooden pitch pipe and a wooden shovel, both from the late 1700s.
Why is St Fflewin's Church Important?
The church is officially protected by a group called Cadw, which looks after historic buildings in Wales. It is a Grade II listed building. This means it is a "building of special interest, which warrant every effort being made to preserve them." It received this status on May 12, 1970. It is protected because it is a "simple rural church built on Medieval foundations." Cadw also notes that it still looks like a traditional church from before the Gothic Revival style became popular.
Samuel Lewis, a writer from the 1800s, described the church as a "plain edifice" that was "beautifully situated near a small lake, and surrounded with pleasing scenery." Sir Stephen Glynne, a politician and church historian, visited in 1867. He said the church had been "completely modernised," but he noted the unique "octagonal" font. He also described the area as "wild and striking." A 2006 guide to Anglesey churches said it is "a typical, well-preserved rural church and is well worth a visit."
