St Peter ad Vincula, Pennal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter ad Vincula |
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| 52°35′08″N 3°55′14″W / 52.58566°N 3.9205°W | |
| Location | Pennal, Gwynedd, Wales. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Website | www.hearthstone.co.uk www.churchinwales.org.uk |
| History | |
| Founded | 6th century |
| Dedication | Saint Peter in Chains |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | rebuilt 1700, 1761, 1810 and 1873 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Pennal |
| Deanery | Cyfeiliog and Mawddwy |
| Archdeaconry | Meirionnydd |
| Diocese | Diocese of Bangor |
| Province | Wales |
The parish church of St Peter ad Vincula is in the village of Pennal in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. Its name means Saint Peter in Chains. This church is famous because it was the location of the last important meeting held by the Welsh prince Owain Glyndŵr.
The church was started in the 6th century by two missionaries, Saints Tanwg and Eithrias, who came from Brittany. It is the only church in Wales with this special name. Today, it is part of the Bro Ystumanner group of churches in the Diocese of Bangor.
Contents
A Special Meeting Place
It is believed that Owain Glyndŵr gave the church its name. He might have done this to compete with the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London. That chapel was a royal chapel of his rival, King Henry IV of England.
Pennal was an important place because it was one of the 21 llysoedd. These were the courts of the native Welsh Princes of Gwynedd. This history made Pennal a respected location.
The Pennal Letter
A very important document called the "Pennal Letter" came from Pennal in 1406. This letter was sent by Owain Glyndŵr to King Charles VI of France. In it, Glyndŵr explained his plans for an independent Wales.
The original letter is kept in the Archives Nationales in Paris. However, copies are on display in Wales. You can see one at the Parliament House in Machynlleth and another at the National Library of Wales. The original letter briefly returned to Wales for an exhibition in 2000. Since then, many people have campaigned for it to be returned permanently. They want it to be shown at the Senedd in Cardiff.
A Garden for Princes
A special memorial garden was created in the churchyard. This garden honours the native Welsh princes. It was made during the time Rev. Geraint ap Iorwerth was in charge of the church. He was the rector from 1989 to 2012.
The garden features a bronze statue of Owain Glyndŵr. The artist, Dave Haynes, created the statue. It was officially revealed in 2004. Famous musician Robert Plant helped pay for the statue. He also attended the opening ceremony. Other people who donated included Ray Gravell, Aneurin Jones, and Julia Ormond.
Church Building History
The Church of St Peter ad Vincula is a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical structure. Much of the church you see today was built in the 18th century. The original medieval church was rebuilt in 1700.
The church's porch is made from stone. This stone came from the nearby Llugwy Quarry. Inside the church, you can see beautiful stained glass windows. Some were made by Holland & Holt in 1872. Others were created by Ernest Penwarden in 1923.
See also
- Buildings associated with Owain Glyndŵr
