St Mechell's Church, Llanfechell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mechell's Church |
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| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 5 December 1970 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Medieval |
St Mechell's Church is a very old church in the small village of Llanfechell, located on the island of Anglesey in Wales. This special building was first built way back in the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago! It has been updated and rebuilt a few times since then, especially in the 1800s and again in the 1990s. Because it's so old and important, it was given a special status called a Grade II*-listed building on 5 December 1970. This means it's protected and its history is valued.
Contents
Discovering St Mechell's Church History
St Mechell's Church is named after a saint called Mechell. The church is in a quiet, countryside area of Anglesey. You can find it right in the middle of Llanfechell village.
Early Beginnings: When Was the Church Built?
The church was first written about in a record called the Norwich Taxation in 1254. This shows it was already an important place back then. The oldest parts of the church are the main hall, called the nave, and the western part of the chancel. These sections were built in the 12th century.
Changes Over Time: How the Church Grew
The chancel, which is the area around the altar, might have been made longer in the 13th century. However, some experts think its unusual length means it was all built in the 12th century.
A part of the church called the south transept was added in the 14th century. The north transept was also added, but we don't know exactly when. It has been updated more recently.
The church tower was built in the 16th century. Later, in the 18th century, a spire was added to the top of the tower. The entrance porch is also very old, probably from the medieval period, even though it has been updated.
Some people believe the very first church might have had a tower in the middle. This idea comes from looking closely at the walls, where there are some unusual joints and shapes.
Modern Updates: Keeping the Church Strong
St Mechell's Church has had several big renovation projects. These happened in 1840, 1870, and again in the late 1990s. These updates help keep the old building in good condition for people to use today.
