St Mary’s Church, Llanfair-yng-Nghornwy (often written Llanfairynghornwy) is a small but nationally important medieval parish church set in a rural churchyard on north-west Anglesey, near to 53°23′16″N , 004°31′02″W, OS grid SH 326 908, What three words ///masts.cringes.enacts, The postal code is LL65 4LH. Its origins are believed to be ancient: a church on the site is recorded in the Norwich Taxation of 1254, and the oldest fabric of the present building — notably the nave walls and the round arch between the nave and chancel — dates to the 11th or 12th century. Because of its survival and quality of detail it was designated a Grade I listing on 12 May 1970
The church is built of rubble masonry with freestone dressings and a slate roof. The chancel roof is late 15th century and the south chapel roof early 16th; The tower is a 17th century addition and the bell-cot contains a 17th century bell. Entry to the church is gained through the tower as the original south porch is now used as a vestry. The building was repaired and refurbished in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Inside are exposed timber roofs with decorative painted shields on the nave beams, a plain Norman-period chancel arch, a chapel entered by three arcades on octagonal columns, and evidence that a rood screen once stood across the chancel. Memorials include an early-19th-century monument to a locally famous bonesetter, Evan Thomas (d.1814), which was erected by Thomas Bulkeley,
The nineteenth-century rector James Williams (incumbent 1821–1872) and his wife Frances were prominent in lifesaving work around Anglesey: They founded the Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Lives (Later part of the RNLI) from Shipwreck after a catastrophic shipwreck (The Albert) near West Mouse in 1823 with the loss of 140 lives. A memorial to James and Frances appears on the south wall of the chapel.
The churchyard contains a variety of local memorials and two Commonwealth war graves: A Royal Navy sailor of the First World War and another naval man of the Second World War.
The church remains in use (Church in Wales) and is frequently noted in local guides as a “hidden gem” of north-west Anglesey, with an “impressive lychgate” and a quiet but atmospheric churchyard, this church is very much worth a visit.
References; Wikipedia National Churches Trust Archaeo Cadw Thank you to Google Earth for the zoom in map.
Welcome to Anglesey Uncovered. In this episode, I'll be visiting one of over a hundred historic
and fascinating churches here on the island of Anglesey. Each of these buildings has its
own unique story to tell, from Celtic beginnings and medieval craftsmanship to legends of saints
and seafarers. In this short video, we'll look at some of this church's history,
its architecture and the role it's played in the life of the local community for centuries.
We'll look at its monuments, its mythical creatures and its important graves. We'll
even look at churches that are no longer there. Join me on this journey of discovery
as we uncover what Anglesey has to offer. This is Anglesey Uncovered.
St. Mary's Church is a small but nationally important medieval parish church set in a
rural churchyard on northwest Anglesey. Its origins are believed to be ancient. A church
on the site is recorded in the Norwich Taxation of 1254, and the oldest fabric of the present
building, notably the nave walls and the round arch between the nave and chancel,
dates to the 11th or 12th century. Because of its survival and quality of detail,
it was designated a Grade I listing on 12 May 1970. The church is built of rubble masonry
with three stone dressings and a slate roof. The chancel roof is late 15th century
and the south chapel roof early 16th. The tower is a 17th century addition
and the bell cot contains a 17th century bell. Entry to the church is gained through the tower
as the original south porch is now used as a vestry.
The building was repaired and refurbished in the 19th and again in the 20th century.
Inside are exposed timber roofs with decorative painted shields on the nave beams,
a plain Norman period chancel arch, a chapel entered by three arcades on octagonal columns,
and evidence that a reed screen once stood across the chancel. Memorials include an early
19th century monument to a locally famous bonesetter, Evan Thomas, who died in 1814,
which was erected by Thomas Bulkeley. The 19th century rector, James Williams,
and his wife, Frances, were prominent in life-saving work around Anglesey.
They founded the Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Lives from Shipwreck after a
shipwreck, the Albert, in 1823 with a loss of 140 lives.
A memorial to James and Frances appears on the south wall of the chapel.
The churchyard contains a variety of local memorials
and two Commonwealth war graves, a Royal Navy sailor of the First World War and another naval
man of the Second. The church remains in use and is frequently noted in local guides as a hidden
gem of north-west Anglesey. With an impressive lych gate and a quiet but atmospheric churchyard,
the church is very much worth a visit.
