St Pabo's Church, Llanbabo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Pabo's Church, Llanbabo
A view of the north side
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OS grid reference	SH 378 867
Location	Llanbabo, Anglesey
Country	Wales, United Kingdom
Denomination	Church in Wales
History
Status	Church
Founded	5th century (reputedly) 12th century (earliest parts of the building)
Founder(s)	St Pabo (reputedly)
Dedication	St Pabo
Architecture
Functional status	Active (occasional services only)
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	12 May 1970
Style	Medieval
Specifications
Length	45 ft (13.7 m)
Width	14 ft 6 in (4.4 m)
Materials	Rubble masonry, dressed with freestone
Administration
Parish	Bodedern with Llanfaethlu
Deanery	Llifon and Talybolion
Archdeaconry	Bangor
Diocese	Diocese of Bangor
Province	Province of Wales

St Pabo's Church, Llanbabo is a very old church in Llanbabo, a small place in Anglesey, North Wales. Many parts of the church were built in the 1100s. It's a great example of an old church that still looks much like it did long ago.

Inside, there's a special stone from the 1300s. It shows a king with a crown and a stick. This stone is said to be for Pabo Post Prydain, who people believe started the church. However, there's no real proof that Pabo, a prince from the 400s, lived here or built the church.

The church is still used today by the Church in Wales. But services are only held here sometimes. It is a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a "particularly important building" because it's a medieval church that hasn't changed much over time.

History of St Pabo's Church

The church in Llanbabo, Anglesey, is very old. No one knows exactly when it was first built. But we know it existed before 1254. It was mentioned in a record called the Norwich Valuation from that year.

The Legend of St Pabo

Local stories say the church was founded by Pabo Post Prydain. He was known as Pabo the "Pillar of Britain." He was a prince from the 400s who came to Anglesey around 460. People also say he was buried in this area.

The Mysterious Stone Slab

Around 1680, a special stone slab was found in the churchyard. A sexton, who looks after the church, dug it up while making a grave. This stone is from the late 1300s. It shows a bearded man wearing a crown and a long tunic. He holds a sceptre, which is a royal stick. The stone looks a bit like a metal picture carved into stone.

The stone has some words carved into it. They say, "Here lies Pabo the Pillar of Britain." This stone is now displayed standing up inside the church. Even with this stone, there is no strong proof that Pabo actually started the church. Historians think there's no real link between him and the building.

Where the Church Is Located

The church stands next to a small road. This road is between Llanddeusant and Rhosgoch. It is also close to the Llyn Alaw reservoir.

St Pabo's Church is part of the Church in Wales. It is one of nine churches in the area of Bodedern with Llanfaethlu. The name Llanbabo comes from the church itself. Llan used to mean "enclosure" and later meant "church." "-babo" is a changed form of the saint's name.

Church Design and Features

The church is built from rubble masonry, which means rough, uneven stones. It is decorated with freestone, which is cut stone. The church is about 14 meters (45 feet) long and 4.4 meters (14 feet 6 inches) wide.

Oldest Parts of the Building

Most of the church was built in the 1100s. The walls and a narrow window on the south side are from this time. Another window on the east end of the south wall is from the late 1300s or early 1400s. The east wall and its window are also from the 1300s. Some windows have unusual green glass. Some window frames are made of wood.

Special Stone Carvings

Above the main doorway, there are three stone human heads. They are worn down by time. These heads are probably from the 1100s. There are also carved stone wedges above the doorway. These wedges likely came from an older arch inside the church. The doorway itself was made bigger in the early 1800s.

On the north side, a doorway was added in the 1700s. But it was later blocked up, and a window was put there instead. Some people think this might have been a special window for people with leprosy. There are two other modern windows on the north wall. They are all at different heights.

Roof and Bell

At the west end of the church, there is a small tower for a bell. This bell is probably from the 1700s. The church's roof is thought to be "one of the earliest on the island" of Anglesey.

Inside the Church

Inside, you can see the Pabo monument on the north wall. There are also old arched wooden supports for the roof. Two marble memorials from the 1700s are also inside. The font, which holds water for baptisms, is a round stone bowl. It is about 30 centimeters (1 foot) tall and probably from the 1100s.

The main part of the church (the nave) and the area near the altar (the chancel) are not separated by a wall. There is one step up to the sanctuary, which is the area around the altar. The altar is made of wood. The pews, where people sit, were added in 1911. There is also a carved head above the doorway inside the church, similar to the ones outside.

A stone called "The Llanbabo Devil" (Diafol Llanbabo) is kept inside the church. It used to be in the churchyard wall. People think it might represent an old Celtic god.

Why St Pabo's Church is Important

St Pabo's Church is a Grade II* listed building. This is the second-highest level of protection for historic buildings. It means the church is "particularly important" and has "more than special interest."

It received this status on May 12, 1970. It was listed because it is a "good, scarcely altered simple Medieval church." This means it's an old church that hasn't been changed much. It still has many of its original medieval parts. This includes old decorative pieces from the 1100s and a beautiful roof from later medieval times.

According to Cadw, the group that protects Wales's old buildings, St Pabo's Church is an "important survivor." Many other old churches in Anglesey were rebuilt or greatly changed in the 1800s. St Pabo's Church has not been changed too much. Some repair work was done in 1909, but overall, the church still looks very old and original.