St Mihangel's Church, Llanfihangel yn Nhowyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mihangel's Church |
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St Mihangel's Church
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| OS grid reference | SH321774 |
| Location | Llanfihangel yn Nhowyn, Anglesey |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Previous denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Chapel for RAF Valley |
| Dedication | St Michael |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 5 April 1971 |
| Architect(s) | Henry Kennedy (1862) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Rubble masonry |
St Mihangel's Church is a special building in the village of Llanfihangel yn Nhowyn, Anglesey, north Wales. It used to be a regular church but now serves as the chapel for RAF Valley, a nearby Royal Air Force base. The first church on this spot was built a long time ago. In 1862, the church was rebuilt to look much like it does today.
In 1998, St Mihangel's became the chapel for RAF Valley. This happened after the Church in Wales decided they no longer needed it for their services. To make it bigger, another old church from Anglesey, St Enghenedl's, was carefully taken apart and put back together at the west end of St Mihangel's. This church is a Grade II listed building. This means it's a very important building that should be protected because of its history and design.
Contents
What is the History of St Mihangel's Church?
St Mihangel's Church is found in a walled churchyard next to a road in Llanfihangel yn Nhowyn. This village is in Anglesey, north Wales. The church is named after St Michael, whose name in Welsh is Mihangel. The village itself gets its name from the church. The Welsh word llan first meant "enclosure" and then "church."
No one knows exactly when the first church was built here. In 1833, a writer named Angharad Llwyd said the church then was "ancient and venerable." She also noted it was easy to see from far away.
How Was the Church Rebuilt and Extended?
Most of St Mihangel's was rebuilt in 1862 by Henry Kennedy. He was an architect for the Diocese of Bangor. Some parts of the older church, especially the east end, were used in Kennedy's new design.
A big change happened in 1988. St Enghenedl's Church, Llanynghenedl, another old church in Anglesey, was no longer used. It was carefully taken apart and rebuilt at the west end of St Mihangel's. This made St Mihangel's big enough to be the chapel for RAF Valley. When St Enghenedl's was moved, its direction was flipped. So, its east end now faces west.
What Does St Mihangel's Church Look Like?
Before the 1862 rebuild, the church was described as small. It was about 46 feet long, 21 feet 6 inches wide, and 9 feet high. It had an old English Gothic style. The east window had a unique design with a shield-shaped section.
The church today is shaped like a rectangle. It is built with rough stones and smooth cut stones. The roof is made of slates with stone caps. The part of the church built in the 1800s is wider and taller than the part added in 1988.
Special Features of the Church Building
A small bell tower is in the middle of the roof. It sits where the two parts of the church join. There is also a small room, called an annexe, on the north side of the newer part. This annexe includes a vestry, which is a room where clergy prepare.
Inside, the main part of the church has three sections. You can see the wooden beams of the roof. The area for the altar, called the sanctuary, is raised by a step. A 17th-century gravestone is set into the floor in front of the sanctuary. The newer part of the church has two sections. The two parts of the church are connected by three round arches. Both the main church and the annexe have their own doors.
What About the Windows?
The windows in the 19th-century part have a pattern of three overlapping circles at the top. They are set in square frames. The north wall has three windows. Two of these have two sections, and one has a single section. The south wall has two windows, one with three sections and one with two. There is also a window on the east end of this wall that has been filled in. The church's main east window has a pointed arch. It has three sections with the three-circle pattern at the bottom and two smaller sections above. The windows in the newer part of the church have pointed arches.
Most windows have clear glass with lead lines. But some have beautiful stained glass. In 2010, a stained glass window was added. It shows the work of the RAF Search and Rescue teams at RAF Valley. This window also honors the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service. It was made by Karen Newby and Lindsey Abbott. Karen Newby also designed another window in 2001 for 208 Squadron at RAF Valley. In 2012, another stained glass window was added to celebrate 100 years of 4 Squadron.
Other Items Inside the Church
In 1937, a survey noted a rectangular font made of gritstone. A font is a basin used for baptisms. There is also a memorial for Sion Evan and his son Evan Jones. They died in 1790 and 1822. A 1906 survey of church items in the Bangor area found a chalice (cup) and paten (plate) made of Britannia metal. These are used for communion. It also noted that the old silver communion set had been stolen.
Why is St Mihangel's Church Important?
St Mihangel's Church is a Grade II listed building. This means it is a building of special interest. It should be protected from changes that are not allowed. It received this status on April 5, 1971. It is considered a good example of a mid-19th-century church. It was built as part of a plan to rebuild and restore churches in Anglesey. Cadw, the Welsh Government body that protects Welsh heritage, also likes its simple design. They say it fits well with the old building style common on the island.
Images for kids
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St Mihangel's Church
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St Mihangel's, extended in 1988 by re-erecting St Enghenedl's Church, Llanynghenedl, at the west end (the left in this picture)
