St Twrog's Church, Bodwrog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Twrog's Church, Bodwrog |
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The west and south sides of the church
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| OS grid reference | SH 400 776 |
| Location | Bodwrog, Anglesey |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | Late 15th century |
| Dedication | St Twrog |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 5 April 1971 |
| Style | Medieval |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 46 ft (14.0 m) |
| Width | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Materials | Rubble masonry |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Llandrygarn with Bodwrog with Heneglwys with Trewalchmai with Llannerch-y-medd |
| Deanery | Malltraeth |
| Archdeaconry | Bangor |
| Diocese | Diocese of Bangor |
| Province | Province of Wales |
St Twrog's Church is a small church in the countryside of Bodwrog, Anglesey, North Wales. It was built a long time ago, in the late 1400s. This was during the Medieval period.
Even though some parts have changed, much of the original church is still there. It has old doorways and windows from the 1400s. Look for a special bull's head decoration! This shows a link to the Bulkeley family, who were important in North Wales.
The church is named after St Twrog, a saint from the late 400s or early 500s. It is still used for church services today. It is also a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important old building that needs to be protected.
Contents
Where is St Twrog's Church?
The church is in a quiet, rural area on Anglesey, Wales. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) from Llangefni, a main town. You can find it by a small road between Gwalchmai and Llynfaes.
No one knows exactly when the first church was built here. The name "Bodwrog" comes from the Welsh word bod, meaning "dwelling", and "Twrog". So, it means "Twrog's dwelling" or "Twrog's home". Saint Twrog's brother, St Gredifael, also has a church named after him in Anglesey.
How Old is the Church?
The church you see today was built around the time of King Henry VII. He ruled from 1485 to 1509. Many buildings were put up in Wales during this time.
More windows were added in the 1600s or 1700s. The church was also repaired in the mid-to-late 1800s. In 1849, a writer named Samuel Lewis noted that St Twrog's was connected to another church, St Trygarn's Church, Llandrygarn. The same priest looked after both.
For a long time, the church's tithes (money paid to the church) went to Jesus College, Oxford. This college has strong ties to Wales. They even built a house for the priest who served St Twrog's.
St Twrog's Today
St Twrog's is still an active church for the Church in Wales. It is part of a group of seven churches that share a priest. Other churches in this group include St Cwyllog and St Mary.
The church is part of the Diocese of Bangor. As of 2012, there hasn't been a permanent priest since 2000.
What Does the Church Look Like Inside?
The church is built from rough stones called rubble masonry. It has a roof made of slate. At the west end, there is a stone bellcote (a small tower for a bell). The bell itself dates back to 1668.
The church is about 46 feet (14 meters) long and 13 feet (4 meters) wide. Inside, there isn't a wall separating the main part of the church (the nave) from the area near the altar (the chancel). However, there is a step and a rail to show where the special area (the sanctuary) begins.
Windows and Doors
On the south side, there are two windows and a 15th-century entrance door. This door is at the west end of the church. On the north side, there are three windows.
The east window and two other windows (on the north and south sides) are from the late 1400s. All the windows are mostly clear glass, not stained glass. The east window is quite grand. It has three tall, narrow sections with curved tops.
Other 15th-century windows have two sections and a five-leaf pattern. The rectangular windows in the middle of the north and south walls were added later, in the 1600s or 1700s.
One window on the north side used to be a door from the 1400s. It has carvings of leaves and three bull's heads. These bull's heads are linked to the Bulkeley family. They were very powerful landowners in Anglesey from the 1400s to the 1800s. A bull's head is also carved into a stone above the main doorway.
Inside the Church
The roof you see inside was built in the 1800s. You can see the wooden beams that support it. The church is lit by gas lamps, which gives it a special feel.
In the main part of the church (the nave), there are box pews. These are like enclosed benches. There is also a wooden reading desk and a matching pulpit. These are painted cream.
You can find some memorial tablets from the 1700s on the south wall. In 1937, a survey noted an old oak collecting shovel from 1733, a silver cup from 1773, and a font (for baptisms) of unknown age.
Why is St Twrog's Church Special?
St Twrog's Church is a very important building in Wales. It is a Grade II* listed building. This is the second-highest level of protection for old buildings. It means the church is "particularly important" and has "more than special interest."
It was given this status on April 5, 1971. It is listed because it is seen as "a good rural late Medieval church." Cadw, the Welsh government body that protects old buildings, says the church has a "simple traditional character." They also note that it still has "many original features."
In 1862, a clergyman named Harry Longueville Jones said the east window was similar to windows in another church, St Cybi's Church, Holyhead. A guide from 2009 also mentioned the east window, calling it "surprisingly grand." Another guide from 2006 described St Twrog's as being in "an elevated spot in a remote rural location." It also noted that the east window was "much weathered," but the church overall seemed to be in "fairly good condition."
See also
