Home Newsletter Locations Diary
 Indexes
Topic Alpha County Sections By

Travellers Resource

Llangwyfan Church

Cribinau, Anglesey

Location Guide

The 13th century church of Llangwyfan, St Cwyfan's, stands on Cribinau, a small tidal island off the south west coast of Anglesey, the nearest village is Aberffraw. It can be reached on foot at low tide via a causeway, which the sea can cover quite quickly at high tide.

The church appears to have been in existence in 1254 and was dedicated to St. Cwyfan. It was added to in the 14th and 15th centuries and was much larger than the building which exists today. 

St Cwyfan taken from the graveyard  Photo by Eric Jones

It is a stone rubble walled building consisting of a continuous nave and chancel. The earliest part is the western part of the south wall. The details of the building are otherwise 14th-15th century with a 15th-16th century three bay arcade on the north side marking the position of a now vanished aisle. A south porch has also vanished. The roof is thought to be 16th century. By 1891 the building was a roofless ruin and it was restored in 1893-4.

Over time the sea eroded the site of the church until the graves started to fall into the water.  In the 19th century, to prevent the church falling into the sea, parts of the church had to be demolished and at the same time a protective wall was built around it. All the windows were restored about 40 years ago. The church is once again in a perilous condition and funds are being raised in order to continue to look after it.

It is known locally as Eglwys bach y mor (the church in the sea) or simply as Cwyfan, and remains in use but there are few services held today, it is popular for weddings and christenings. Special arrangements have to be made to enter the church on a passing visit.

17th century maps show the church standing on the mainland of Anglesey, but erosion by the sea of the cliffs has since separated the church onto an island. An engraving of 1846 shows an islet reached by a causeway and by 1889 a first edition OS map of Anglesey shows a wall running around the summit of the islet slopes, but this had gone by the time of the 2nd edition in 1900. The present wall is shown on the 3rd edition of 1922.

St Cwyfan from the Mainland  Photo by Stephen Roddick


Location: St Cwyfan's Church, Llangwyfan, Anglesey

Grid Reference: SH335682 Ceremonial County: Anglesey

Map Link: Multimap

Aerial photo: Multimap

Getting there: From Aberffraw take the road to Penrhyn and Porth Cwyfan beach. A short walk along the Anglesey Coastal Path    will take you within range of the island.

Access: At low tide when it's possible to get over the causeway. Access to church by special arrangement.
Website:
Other Useful Websites: Wiki      Aberffraw     Geograph
Email:
Address: Aberffraw, Isle of Anglesey
Postcode: LL63 5YR Telephone:
Opening Times: Island at low tide, church open by special arrangement only

Charges: FREE

Nearby Locations: Barclodiad y Gawres Burial Chamber
Other Location Pages: Anglesey Coastal Path 
Other Relevant Pages: Anglesey Attractions    Anglesey Attractions Map

Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

Please let us know any other information that we can add to the Grid(s) or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you quote both the Page Ref and Topic or Section references from the Grid below. To print the planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.

Please submit information on locations you discover so that this system continues to grow.

 


By: Tracey Park Section: Abbey and Religious Building Section Key:
Page Ref: Llangwyfran_Church Topic: Churches Last Updated: 07/2010

.

This page:

Link directly to this page, with text or the button on right.

Text linking: Llangwyfan Church on Photographers Resource

Linking Instructions                            http://www.photographers-resource.co.uk/

Photographers Resource, all the information for the photographer