St Figael's Church, Llanfigael, is a redundant church in the hamlet of Llanfugail,

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...

, Wales. It has been designated by

Cadw (, a Welsh verbal noun meaning "keeping/preserving") is the historic environment service of the Welsh Government and part of the Tourism and Culture group. works to protect the historic buildings and structures, the landscapes and heritage s ...

as a Grade II

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches. The church is considered by Cadw to be particularly notable because of its "retaining its early 19th-century interior virtually intact".

History

The present church is thought to date from the 18th century, and it was much rebuilt in 1841. A church has been documented on this site since 1254. The only fabric possibly surviving from this earlier church is to be found in the foundations and part of the walls. Since it was declared redundant, the charity the Friends of Friendless Churches has held a 999-year lease, which was transferred to them on 1 February 2007. After taking it over, the charity has organised the re-covering of the roof, and has re-introduced timber windows designed by Tim Ratcliffe, their design being based on the pre-existing windows.

Architecture

It is a small rectangular church constructed in stone rubble. At the west end is a

gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...

d rendered

bellcote A bellcote, bell-cote or bell-cot is a small framework and shelter for one or more bells. Bellcotes are most common in church architecture but are also seen on institutions such as schools. The bellcote may be carried on brackets projecting from ...

. The doorway is at the west end of the south side, and there is no

chancel In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse. Ove ...

. The fittings are thought to date from the 19th century. The

pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, access ...

is on the north side of the church; elsewhere there are box pews and benches. At the west end are three fonts; the oldest dates from the 12th century, and was formerly in the church of St Ynghenedl; the next dates from the 14th century, and is octagonal in shape; while the third is a "rare cupboard font".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Figaels Church Llanfigael Llanfigael, St Figael Llanfigael, St Figael Figael Llanfigael Llanfigael Llanfachraeth