St Tyfrydog's Church, Llandyfrydog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Tyfrydog's Church, Llandyfrydog |
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The south side of the church, with the nave and porch to the left and the chancel to the right
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| OS grid reference | SH 443 853 |
| Location | Llandyfrydog, Anglesey |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | c.450 (original church) Oldest parts of current church date from c.1400 |
| Founder(s) | St Tyfrydog |
| Dedication | St Tyfrydog |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 12 May 1970 |
| Style | Medieval |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 24 ft 9 in (7.5 m) (nave) |
| Nave width | 23 ft 6 in (7.2 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Amlwch |
| Deanery | Twycelyn |
| Archdeaconry | Bangor |
| Diocese | Diocese of Bangor |
| Province | Province of Wales |
St Tyfrydog's Church, Llandyfrydog is a small, old church in Llandyfrydog, Anglesey, north Wales. People believe a church was first built here around the year 450. The oldest parts of the church you see today are about 600 years old, from around 1400. It is made from rough, small stones.
This church has some interesting stories! One legend says a man who stole a bible from the church was turned into stone by St Tyfrydog. You can still see this stone about 1 mile away. Another story from 1098 tells how a Norman lord, Hugh of Montgomery, kept his dogs in the church. The dogs supposedly went crazy, and the lord died soon after.
Today, St Tyfrydog's Church is still used for church services. It is a very important building and is protected as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a "particularly important building of more than special interest" because it has kept much of its original medieval design.
Contents
A Look at the Church's Past
St Tyfrydog's Church is found in a quiet, wooded churchyard in the small village of Llandyfrydog. This village is in Anglesey, north Wales, about 6 miles from Llangefni. The name Llandyfrydog comes from the church itself. In Welsh, llan used to mean "enclosure" and then "church." So, Llandyfrydog means "Tyfrydog's church."
How Old Is the Church?
Historians believe a church was first built here around 450 AD. Some even say St Tyfrydog himself started the original church. The oldest parts of the current building, like the main hall (called the nave), are from about 1400. The part of the church where the altar is (the chancel) was rebuilt later, around the late 1400s or early 1500s.
The church has been repaired and updated over the years. Major work happened in 1823 and again in 1862. During these times, the entrance porch and a small room called the vestry were added.
Legends and Old Stories
About a mile from the village, there is a stone standing about 4 feet tall. It is known as "the thief of Dyfrydog." Local stories say this stone is a man who was turned to stone by St Tyfrydog. He was punished for stealing the church's bible. People say the bump near the top of the stone is the sack he carried the bible in.
Another famous story comes from Gerald of Wales, who wrote about the church in 1191. He said that in 1098, during a Welsh uprising, a Norman lord named Hugh of Montgomery kept his dogs in Llandyfrydog church. Gerald wrote that the dogs went mad by morning, and the lord was killed within a week.
The Church Today
St Tyfrydog's Church is still an active church. It is part of the Church in Wales. It is one of four churches in the area that share a priest. The church is part of the Diocese of Bangor.
Over the years, several important people have been connected to this church. These include a famous Welsh plant expert, Hugh Davies, and a priest and historian, Nicholas Owen.
What the Church Looks Like
St Tyfrydog's Church is built from rough, small, square-shaped stones. The main part of the church, the nave, is about 24 feet 9 inches long and 23 feet 6 inches wide. The chancel, where the altar is, is about 23 feet 3 inches long and 18 feet 9 inches wide.
The roof is made of slate. At the west end of the church, there is a small stone tower called a bellcote that holds one bell. Inside, you can see the wooden beams that support the roof.
Windows and Inside Features
The oldest window in the church is on the south wall, near the porch. It is from about 1400. This window has two sections, called lights, separated by a stone bar. Each light has a three-leaf shape (a trefoil) at the top.
A newer window on the same wall is placed higher up to let more light onto the pulpit. The north wall has two rectangular windows. One has two lights with five-leaf shapes (called cinquefoils) at the top. The other is a single light with a trefoil.
The large window at the east end of the church has three lights and is from the late 1400s. This is the only window with colorful stained glass. Inside, a pointed arch separates the nave from the chancel. This arch is also from around 1400.
The church has painted box pews for seating. These pews are from the 1800s.
Other Interesting Items
In 1937, a survey found several old items inside the church. These included a communion table from the 1700s, a silver cup from the time of Queen Elizabeth I, and a silver plate (called a paten) from 1721. There is also a memorial inside the church from 1791.
In the churchyard, you can see many old slate gravestones. There is also a brass sundial from the 1700s. This sundial stands on the base of an even older stone cross from the medieval period.
Why This Church Is Special
St Tyfrydog's Church is a very important historical building. It is protected by law as a Grade II* listed building. This is the second-highest level of protection in Wales. It means the church is "particularly important" and has "more than special interest." It received this status in 1970.
The reason it is so special is that it is a "good Medieval rural church." It has kept many of its original medieval parts. Cadw, the Welsh government body that protects old buildings, says the church still has a "rich vernacular character." This means it shows the traditional building style of the local area.
The stone wall around the churchyard and the sundial in the churchyard are also protected. They are listed at Grade II, which means they are "of special interest" and should be preserved.
People who have studied the church have often praised it. In the 1800s, a writer named Samuel Lewis called it a "lofty and venerable structure" with a "remarkably large chancel." Another writer, Harry Longueville Jones, said it was "one of the better sort" of churches in Anglesey. He noted how "unusually high" the nave was. More recently, a guide from 2009 described it as a "handsomely proportioned church."
