St Mary's Church, Bodewryd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Bodewryd
The churchyard and south side of the church
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OS grid reference	SH 400 905
Location	Bodewryd, Anglesey
Country	Wales, United Kingdom
Denomination	Church in Wales
History
Status	Church
Founded	Before 1254; earliest dateable feature of present building is c.1500
Dedication	St Mary
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II
Designated	12 May 1970
Specifications
Length	34 feet 9 inches (10.6 m)
Width	14 feet (4.3 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 Mary's Church, Bodewryd, is a small, old church in the quiet hamlet of Bodewryd. This village is located in Anglesey, a beautiful island in north Wales. We don't know exactly when the first church was built here. However, records show there was a church on this spot as early as 1254.

The oldest part of the church we can date is a doorway. It was built around the year 1500. In 1867, the church needed repairs after being hit by lightning. A special feature was added during this time: the windows got stained glass with patterns inspired by Islamic art. This was a request from Lord Stanley of Alderley. He was a wealthy supporter of the church who had converted to Islam.

Today, St Mary's Church is still used for worship. It is part of the Church in Wales. It is also a Grade II listed building. This means it's a special building that should be protected because of its history and simple, medieval design.

Exploring St Mary's Church: History and Location

The exact start date of a religious building here is a mystery. But we know a church existed in Bodewryd by 1254. During the 1200s, the church belonged to the Augustinian priory at Penmon. This priory was a type of monastery. It also owned other churches in Anglesey.

The walls of the current church are very old, from the medieval period. The oldest part we can put a date on is the doorway of the porch. It looks like it was built around 1500. In 1867, the church was fixed up by an architect named Henry Kennedy. This happened after the church was damaged by a lightning strike.

The repairs were paid for by Lord Stanley of Alderley. He was a very interesting person who had become a Muslim. He had a special rule for any church he helped restore. He asked that Islamic designs be included in the new work. At St Mary's, this meant the windows got cool geometric patterns. These patterns are made from small pieces of colored glass. He made the same request for another nearby church, St Peirio, which is now closed.

For many years, the church was connected to the Wynn (or Wynne) family. They owned land in Bodewryd from 1521 until 1755. A famous member of this family was Humphrey Humphreys. He was a bishop and got married in St Mary's in 1690.

The church is located right by the road in Bodewryd. This is in the northern part of Anglesey. It's about 3 miles (5 km) from the town of Amlwch. A rectangular churchyard surrounds the building. You enter it through a wooden gate. The church is still an active place of worship. It's part of a larger group of churches. These include Llanfechell, Rhosbeirio, Llanfflewin, and Llanbadrig.

Church Design and Special Features

St Mary's Church is quite small. The Diocese of Bangor says it's the second-smallest church in Anglesey. The main part of the church, called the nave, and the area near the altar, called the chancel, are not separated. Together, they measure about 34 feet 9 inches long and 14 feet wide (about 10.6 meters by 4.3 meters).

The church is built from rough stones called rubble masonry. It has smoother stones, called freestone, for details. The roof is made of slate. You can see the wooden beams of the roof from inside the church. At the west end of the roof, there's a small tower for a bell, called a bellcote. The only bell in the church is from 1747. It has a pretty vine pattern on it.

You enter the church through a porch on the north side. The doorway to the porch has a rounded top. It has a 15th-century style doorjamb, which is the frame around the door. However, the porch itself is more modern. The windows in the main part of the church have rounded tops. There is one window on the north wall, one on the west wall, and two on the south wall. The window at the east end of the church is from the late 1500s. It's rectangular with three arched sections. These sections are separated by stone bars called mullions.

The church has two fonts, which are bowls used for baptisms. One might be from the medieval period. It's a rectangular bowl made of gritstone. The other font might have been added during the 1800s repairs. It's an oval bowl made of alabaster and has rich decorations.

Inside the church, you'll find several memorials on the walls. There's a brass plaque that mentions money received in 1720 and 1727. Other brass plaques remember Edward Wynne, his family, and his parents. Edward Wynne is buried in the churchyard. A survey from 1937 noted that seven generations of Wynne men were buried here. The survey also mentioned some old silver cups and part of an oak table from 1611.

Why St Mary's Church is Important

St Mary's Church is officially recognized as a special building. It's a Grade II listed building. This means it's important enough that efforts should be made to protect it. It received this status on May 12, 1970. It's listed because it's a "simple, rural church of Medieval origins."

Cadw, which is the Welsh government body that looks after old buildings, says the church still has medieval parts. However, it also has many features from the 1800s. They describe it as a "simple vernacular building." This means it's a basic, local style of building.

An old writer named Angharad Llwyd described the church as a "small ancient edifice." She mentioned the memorials to the Wynne family. She also noted Edward Wynne's generosity. He had given land and money to support the church. A guide from 2006 calls it "one of the smallest churches in Anglesey." It also says it stands "in a pleasant location."