St Mary's Church, Llanfair-yn-Neubwll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Llanfair-yn-Neubwll |
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| Previous denomination | |
| History | |
| Status | closed |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 1971 |
| Closed | 1970s |
St Mary's Church was an old church located in Llanfair-yn-Neubwll, a place in Anglesey, Wales. It was part of the Church in Wales. The building you see today was built in the 1300s. It might have even replaced an older church from the 1100s.
The church was given a fresh look in 1857. However, it stopped being used as a church in the 1970s. Today, it is a special building known as a Grade II-listed building. This means it is important and protected.
The Church's Story
The main part of St Mary's Church was built in the 14th century, which is the 1300s. Some people think there was an even older church on this spot. This idea comes from the baptismal font, which is a special bowl used for baptisms. It seems to be from the 12th century (the 1100s).
The church was built using local stone. It was a simple medieval church. The main area where people sat, called the nave, and the area near the altar, called the chancel, were not separated by a wall or screen. They were all one open space.
Changes Over Time
In 1857, a man named Henry Kennedy helped to fix up the church. He was an architect who worked on many churches. He added new windows to the north and south walls. He also put a new roof on the nave.
Kennedy also took out the old wooden benches, called pews. He replaced them with new, open seating for everyone. Even though he made many changes, Kennedy was careful. He used some materials from the original church again. His work was not as big as some other church renovations happening in Anglesey at that time.
Why It's Special and Why It Closed
In the 1970s, St Mary's Church was given a special status. It became a Grade II-listed building. This means it is important because it is a good example of a simple, old church. Even with the changes in the 1800s, it still has much of its original structure.
The listing also said that the church was "an important survival." Many other old churches had been completely rebuilt or changed a lot. St Mary's kept much of its original look. Even so, the church stopped holding services in the 1970s. The old baptismal font was moved to St Cybi's Church in Holyhead to keep it safe.
