St Tanwg's Church, Llandanwg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Tanwgs, Llandanwg |
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| The Church in the Sand | |
St Tanwg's church with the lych gate in the foreground
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| 52°49′57″N 4°07′34″W / 52.832615°N 4.125985°W | |
| Location | Llandanwg, Gwynedd |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Tanwg |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | active |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bro Ardudwy |
| Deanery | Meirionydd Synod |
| Archdeaconry | Meirionnydd |
| Diocese | Bangor |
| Province | Church in Wales |
St Tanwg's Church, Llandanwg is a very old church in the village of Llandanwg, Gwynedd, Wales. It is also known as "the church in the sand" because of its special location. The church is dedicated to a saint named Tanwg.
This church is a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered a very important historical building in the UK. It is protected so it can be kept safe for many years.
Contents
Where is St Tanwg's Church?
This unique church sits right in the middle of sand dunes. It is only about 20 meters (about 65 feet) from the sea. The church is at the southern end of Llandanwg village.
Because it is so close to the sandy beach, people often call it "the church in the sand". To the southwest, you can see where the River Artro meets the sea.
A Look Back in Time: The Church's History
The church building you see today is from the Middle Ages. Some parts, like the western end, might be as old as the 13th century (the 1200s).
But the site itself is much older! Stones found here have carvings from the 6th century (the 500s). This suggests people were using this spot as a church around 453 AD. This was possibly part of Saint Patrick's work to connect Ireland and Britain.
Changes Over the Centuries
In the 15th century (the 1400s), the church was made longer towards the east. A tall window was added, along with a special screen called a rood screen.
The church was repaired and changed again in the 17th century (the 1600s). Windows were rebuilt during this time. A choir loft was likely removed, and floor beams were moved. You can see the initials "REP" and the date "1685" carved into a stone. This might mark when these changes happened. The first known priest for this area was Rector Thomas Humphrey in 1662.
In 1786, the church floor was covered with flat stones. A few years later, some old medieval paintings on the walls were lost when the walls were replastered and repainted.
A Time of Neglect and Rescue
For hundreds of years, St Tanwg's was the main church for the area, including the town of Harlech. But between 1839 and 1841, a new church was built in Harlech. It was also dedicated to St Tanwg.
The old church was then left empty. Its old font (a basin for baptisms), bell, and other items were moved to the new building. The church started to fall apart. Roof tiles were lost, and part of the roof even fell in. Sand began to fill the church, and local fishermen sometimes used it to hang their nets.
Luckily, in 1884, a group called the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings stepped in. They raised money and fixed the roof for £80. Since then, more work has been done to keep the church in good condition. A big restoration project in 1987 cost £20,000.
What Does the Church Look Like?
St Tanwg's church is a simple rectangular building. It is about 17.4 meters (57 feet) long from west to east and 7 meters (23 feet) wide from north to south. It has one continuous space inside, combining the main area (nave) and the altar area (chancel).
The main part of the church (the nave) is likely from the 13th century. The chancel, where the altar is, was added in the 15th century. The church is built from local rough stones. It has larger, carefully cut stones at the corners and around openings. The roof is made of slate.
Entrances and Windows
You enter the church through a door on the west wall. The doorway has an arch with stones that spread out like rays. There might have been a small porch over the door once. Above the door, on the roof, there is a small bell tower called a bellcote. It holds one bell.
The south wall has a door from the 13th century that is now blocked up. It also has a window added in the 17th century and another window from the 15th century. The north wall also has a window from the 17th century and one from the 15th century.
The east wall was added in the 15th century when the church was made longer. It originally had a tall window, but a smaller one replaced it in the 17th century.
