St Cadwaladr's Church, Llangadwaladr

St. Cadwaladr Church, Llangadwaladr
St. Cadwaladr Church
Welsh: Eglwys Ael
St. Cadwaladr Church
St. Cadwaladr Church, Llangadwaladr Location in Anglesey
53°11′45″N 4°25′15″W
OS grid reference	SH 383 692
Location	Llangadwaladr
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church in Wales
Previous denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	churchinwales.org- St. Cadwaladr, Llangadwaladr
History
Former name(s)	Eglwys Ael
Status	Church
Founded	615 (615)
Dedication	Cadwaladr
Associated people	Meyrick family of Bodorgan Owen Family of Bodowen
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	30 January 1968
Style	Late Decorated
Groundbreaking	600s
Completed	1856
Specifications
Length	44.25 ft (13.49 m)
Nave width	16.75 ft (5.11 m)
Administration
Province	Wales
Diocese	Bangor
Episcopal area	North West Wales
Archdeaconry	Archdeacon of Anglesey
Deanery	Synod Ynys Mon
Benefice	Bro Cadwaladr parish
Clergy
Archbishop	Andy John
Vicar(s)	The Reverend Canon E C Williams
Priest(s)	The Reverend E R D Roberts
Archdeacon	John Harvey

St Cadwaladr's Church (Welsh: Eglwys Ael) is a Grade I listed church in Llangadwaladr, Anglesey. The location of the current church was established in the 7th century by the Kings of Gwynedd, after whom the church is named, King Cadwaladr. The Church standing today was built in the 'T' shape perpendicular style. The nave is dated to the 12th to early 13th century and the chancel to the 14th. Later the chapels were built, the north in 1640 and the southern Bodowen Chapel in 1661. Then, during 1856 the church underwent restoration, at which time to south porch was added.

Founding of the church

The Welsh diocese of the former Kingdom of Gwynedd was founded c. 546 by Saint Deiniol (Daniel) as the first Bishop of Gwynedd in the Diocese of Bangor. Around 615 AD the current location of St. Cadwaladr's Church was established as royal monastery by the Kings of Gwynedd. King Cadfan ap Iago had been buried in the church, and his tombstone c. 634 is still on display today. Cadfan's grandson Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon (Cadwaladr the blessed, Welsh: Fendigaid) was the patron Saint of the church which is named after him. King Cadwaladr retired to Llangadwaladr to become a monk, he later died in Rome in 664 and his body was brought back to Anglesey and buried at the church (Ael church), which was renamed in his honour. The church was rebuilt in the 12th and 13th centuries with the addition of the nave. The chancel was added in the 14th century. Then in the 15th century a stained glass window was added which is still in the church today after being restored in 1850. The north Chapel (Meyrick) was built c. 1640 and rebuilt in 1801, whilst the south chapel (Owen) was built c. 1661. Then the south Church porch was built in 1856, completing the church which stands today.

Catamanus stone

Catamanus stone, circa 600 AD.

Iago's tombstone (enhanced image).

The medieval King of Gwynedd Cadfan ap Iago (King of Britain) was buried in Llangadwaladr. Cadfan's tombstone is currently found in the present church. The tombstone was inscribed c. 634:

Latin: CATAMANUS REX SAPIENTIS MUS OPINATISM US OMNIUM REG UM.
English: King Cadfan, the Wisest and Most Renowned of All Kings.

Stained glass windows

The Crucifixion with the Virgin Mary and St John, glass c. 1490, restored 1850.

It was during the Tudor period that the church was given stained glass windows as a gift from the Meyrick family (Welsh: Meurig) of Bodorgan as thankfulness for the return of their son Owain Ap Meurig after fighting with Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth (1485). The window is dated to 1490, the painting includes a portrait of St. Cadwaladr and also depictions of Saint Mary and St. John, the glass window was restored in 1850. The stained glass window from the 15th century was hidden in a vault during the Protestant reformation in 1661. The window of 1485 in the chancel east window also shows a Meyrick family member, Owen ap Meuric praying with his wife Ellen. There is a man in armour with the crest of Llywarch ap Bran honouring the patron's great-grandmother Eurddyled (daughter of Dafydd ap Iorweth), an heiress. And another with the crest of Hwfa ap Cynddelw. An inscription for the c. 1485 (Tudor period) glass stained window reads:

Pray for the good estate of Meuric ap Llywelyn ap Hwlcyn esquire; Marged verch Ifan Fychan, Owain ap Meuric, Elen verch Robert, Who caused the window to be made.

During 1860, a local family member in the vicinity Owen Fuller Meyrick donated a glass stained windows depicting the resurrection of Jesus, the healing of a beggar by Saint Peter and John outside the Beautiful Gate and Salome desiring Christ honour her sons. Also many other fittings were given as gifts from another Meyrick family member, Owen Putland Meyrick of Bodorgan Hall.

Chapels

There was an addition of two chapels built in the 17th century. A chapel was named the Bodowen chapel in honour of a benefactor, the local Owen family of Bodowen. Anne Owen had married the Sir Hugh Owen and dedicated the chapel in memory of her husband. Also there another memorial for Hugh Owen (English Civil War colonel Royalist) from 1660 in the chapel. There are plaques which record the building of the second chapel, the north chapel (Meyrick chapel) which was developed by Richard Owen Meyrick in 1640. Beneath the plaque is a vault for Richard's great-grandson Owen Meyrick (1730). Another memorial for the reconstruction of the north chapel was made in 1801 by Owen Putland Meyrick (died 1825). In the chapel is also a marble memorial to the children of Augustus Elliot Fuller. The initials 'F M' are written into the window, they represent the Fuller and Meyrick families.

Modern history

In the newer part of the churchyard, south of the church, are war graves of four British airmen and a Polish airman of World War II. Today the church is a part of the benefice of Bro Cadwaladr parish with 7 other churches in the local area.

Gallery

Images from the church, graveyard and the sculptures and stained glass windows:

• 
  The Church today
• 
  Statue head
• 
  Celtic cross
• 
  Dragon corbel
• 
  Honour for Owen Putland Meyrick.
• 
  Indoor seating arrangement
• 
  The crucification of Christ, stained glass window c. 1490, restored 1850.
• 
  Scenes from the New Testament, glass c. 1860.
• 
  Cemetery
• 
  In honour of Owen Putland Meyrick, 1783.
• 
  Bodowen chapel built 1661, also coat of arms of Sir Arthur Owen, 3rd Baronet.