St Hywyn's Church, Aberdaron facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Hywyn
"The Cathedral of Llŷn"
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OS grid reference	SH173263
Location	Aberdaron, Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church in Wales
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	5th–7th century
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	19 October 1971
Architectural type	Church
Administration
Parish	Bro Enlli Ministry Area
Diocese	Bangor

The Church of St Hywyn is a really old church in Aberdaron, Gwynedd, Wales. It started way back between the 5th and 7th centuries as a special religious settlement. The church you see today was mostly built in the 12th century, with more parts added later. It was super important in the Middle Ages because it was where many people started their journey to Bardsey Island. This island was a famous place for pilgrimage, which means a special trip for religious reasons. After a time of decline, the church was restored and is still active today. A famous Welsh poet, R. S. Thomas, even served as a minister here. It's also a Grade I listed building, meaning it's a very important historical building.

A Church with a Long Story

The Church of St Hywyn began as a "clas" settlement. This was a type of early Christian community from the Dark Ages, between the 5th and 7th centuries. It was founded by a Welsh saint named Hywyn, who originally came from Brittany.

A Popular Pilgrimage Stop

The church became much more important after 1190. This was when Bardsey Island and St Davids were declared special pilgrimage sites by the Pope. People believed that visiting these two places was as important as one trip to Rome.

St Hywyn's Church grew a lot to welcome the huge number of pilgrims. These pilgrims were sailing to Bardsey Abbey. They were fed and given drinks in a large building next to the church called the Great Kitchen (Y Gegin Fawr). The church building we see today was first written about in 1115. More parts were added in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Decline and Restoration

After a big change in religion called the Reformation, the church became less important. It often had priests who didn't live nearby. By the 1840s, the church was falling apart. A new church was built further inland.

However, people didn't like the new church very much. So, by 1868, the original Church of St Hywyn was fixed up and used again. More repairs and updates happened in the 19th and 20th centuries. The church is sometimes called "The Cathedral of Llyn." It is still an active church today in the Bro Enlli Ministry Area.

A Poet's Connection

The famous Welsh poet R. S. Thomas was a minister at this church. He served here from 1967 to 1978.

Church Design and Features

The Church of St Hywyn has two main parts called naves. They are both the same length. However, they were built at different times. The northern nave is mostly from the 12th century. The southern one was built in the 14th century.

Building Materials and Roof

The church is built from rough stones called rubble. It has roofs made of slate. There is also a small tower for bells, known as a bellcote. The inside of the church was updated in 2006. It has a special type of roof called a hammerbeam roof.

Inside the Church

The arched walkway inside the church, called an arcade, is from the 15th century. It is described as "distinguished" in a famous book about the buildings of Gwynedd. You can also find two carved stones inside the church. These stones remember two priests from the 5th or 6th century, named Veracius and Senacus.

The church is a Grade I listed building. This means it's considered one of the most important historical buildings in the Lleyn area.

Notable Burials

The local herbalist Alice Griffith was buried here in 1821.