St Cadwaladr's Church () is a

Grade I In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...

listed church in

Llangadwaladr Llangadwaladr () is a small village in south-west Anglesey, Wales, located around 2 miles east of Aberffraw and 3 miles south of Gwalchmai. It is part of the community of Bodorgan. Early medieval Kings The '' Catamanus stone'' has been pres ...

Anglesey Anglesey ( ; ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms the bulk of the Principal areas of Wales, county known as the Isle of Anglesey, which also includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island () and some islets and Skerry, sker ...

. The location of the current church was established in the 7th century by the Kings of Gwynedd, after whom the church is named,

King King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

Cadwaladr Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon (also spelled Cadwalader or Cadwallader in English) was king of Gwynedd in Wales from around 655 to 664 or 682. He died in one of two devastating plagues that happened in 664 and in 682. Little else is known of his reig ...

. The

Church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...

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

chapel A chapel (from , a diminutive of ''cappa'', meaning "little cape") is a Christianity, Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. First, smaller spaces inside a church that have their o ...

s were built, the north in 1640 and the southern ''Bodowen Chapel'' in 1661. Then, during 1856 the church underwent restoration, at which time the south porch was added.

Founding of the church

The Welsh diocese of the former

Kingdom of Gwynedd The Kingdom of Gwynedd (Medieval Latin: ; Middle Welsh: ) was a Wales in the Early Middle Ages, Welsh kingdom and a Roman Empire Succession of states, successor state that emerged in sub-Roman Britain in the 5th century during the Anglo-Saxon ...

was founded by

Saint Deiniol Saint Deiniol (died 572) was traditionally the first Bishop of Bangor in the Kingdom of Gwynedd, Wales. The present Bangor Cathedral, dedicated to Deiniol, is said to be on the site where his monastery stood. He is venerated in Brittany as Sai ...

(Daniel) as the first Bishop of Gwynedd in the

Diocese of Bangor The Diocese of Bangor is a Diocese#Church of England and Anglican Communion, diocese of the Church in Wales in North West Wales. The diocese covers Anglesey, most of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire and the western part of Montgomeryshire. His ...

. Around 615 AD the current location of St. Cadwaladr's Church was established as

royal Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family or Royalty (disambiguation), royalty Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Ill ...

monastery by the Kings of Gwynedd. King

Cadfan ap Iago Cadfan ap Iago (c. 569 – c. 625) was King of Gwynedd (reigned c. 616 – c. 625). Little is known of the history of Gwynedd from this period, and information about Cadfan and his reign is minimal. The historical person is known only from his ...

had been buried in the church, and his tombstone c. 634 is still on display today. Cadfan's grandson

Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon (also spelled Cadwalader or Cadwallader in English) was king of Gwynedd in Wales from around 655 to 664 or 682. He died in one of two devastating plagues that happened in 664 and in 682. Little else is known of his reig ...

(Cadwaladr the blessed, ) was the patron

Saint In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...

of the church which is named after him. King Cadwaladr retired to Llangadwaladr to become a monk, he later died in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

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 nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

. The

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

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 and rebuilt in 1801, whilst the south chapel (Owen) was built . Then the south

Church porch A church porch is a room-like structure at a church's main entrance. A porch protects from the weather to some extent. Some porches have an outer door, others a simple gate, and in some cases the outer opening is not closed in any way. The porch ...

was built in 1856, completing the church which stands today.

Catamanus stone

The

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

King of Gwynedd This is a list of the rulers of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. Many of them were also acclaimed "King of the Britons" or "Prince of Wales". List of kings or princes of Gwynedd House of Cunedda * Cunedda (Cunedda the Imperator) (c. 450 – c. 46 ...

(

King of Britain There have been 13 British monarchs since the political union of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland on 1 May 1707. England and Scotland had been in personal union since 24 March 1603; while the style, "King of Great Britain" fi ...

) was buried in Llangadwaladr. Cadfan's tombstone is currently found in the present church. The tombstone was inscribed :

Stained glass windows

It was during the

Tudor period In England and Wales, the Tudor period occurred between 1485 and 1603, including the Elizabethan era during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603). The Tudor period coincides with the dynasty of the House of Tudor in England, which began with ...

that the church was given

stained glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...

windows as a gift from the

Meyrick family The Meyrick family (later spelling Merrick) of Bodorgan, Anglesey, Wales is descended from Cadafael, lord of Cedewain, Powys. Notable family members Llewelyn ap Heylin fought at the battle of Bosworth for Henry Tudor. Meurig ap Llewelyn, s ...

() of

Bodorgan Bodorgan is a village and community on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom. According to the 2001 Census, there were 1,503 residents in the now former electoral ward, 72.7% of them being able to speak Welsh. This increased to 1,704 at ...

as thankfulness for the return of their son Owain Ap Meurig after fighting with Henry Tudor at the

Battle of Bosworth The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field ( ) was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the houses of Lancaster and York that extended across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 ...

(1485). The window is dated to 1490, and the painting includes a portrait of St. Cadwaladr and also depictions of

Saint Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

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 Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major Theology, theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the p ...

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 (

) glass stained window reads: During 1860, a local family member in the vicinity Owen Fuller Meyrick donated a glass stained windows depicting the

resurrection of Jesus The resurrection of Jesus () is Christianity, Christian belief that God in Christianity, God Resurrection, raised Jesus in Christianity, Jesus from the dead on the third day after Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion, starting—or Preexis ...

, the healing of a beggar by

Saint Peter Saint Peter (born Shimon Bar Yonah; 1 BC – AD 64/68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first leaders of the Jewish Christian#Jerusalem ekklēsia, e ...

and John outside the Beautiful Gate and

Salome Salome (; , related to , "peace"; ), also known as Salome III, was a Jews, Jewish princess, the daughter of Herod II and princess Herodias. She was granddaughter of Herod the Great and stepdaughter of Herod Antipas. She is known from the New T ...

desiring Christ honour her sons. Also, many other fittings were given as gifts from another Meyrick family member, Owen Putland Meyrick of

Bodorgan Hall Bodorgan Hall is a country house and estate located in the hamlet of Bodorgan, Anglesey, Wales, situated near the Irish Sea in the southwestern part of the island. The hall is the seat of the Meyricks, and is the largest estate on Anglesey. The ...

Chapels

During the 17th century, an addition of two

chapels A chapel (from , a diminutive of ''cappa'', meaning "little cape") is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. First, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are o ...

were built. One of the chapels' were named the ''Bodowen chapel'', in honour of a benefactor, the local ''Owen'' family of Bodowen. It was Anne Owen who had married the Sir Hugh Owen and dedicated the chapel in memory of her husband. Also, there is another memorial for Hugh Owen (

English Civil War The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...

colonel

Royalist A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of gove ...

) from 1660 in the chapel. Then, the second chapel is the north chapel, named the ''Meyrick chapel'', it was developed by Richard Owen Meyrick in 1640. In both chapels there are plaques which record they're construction. Beneath one of the plaques is a

vault Vault may refer to: * Jumping, the act of propelling oneself upwards Architecture * Vault (architecture), an arched form above an enclosed space * Bank vault, a reinforced room or compartment where valuables are stored * Burial vault (enclosur ...

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). Then, in the second chapel, there 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 the

war graves A war grave is a burial place for members of the armed forces or civilians who died during military campaigns or operations. Definition The term "war grave" does not only apply to graves: ships sunk during wartime are often considered to b ...

of four British airmen and a Polish airman from

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Today the church is a part of the

benefice A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by ...

of ''Bro Cadwaladr'' parish with 7 other churches in the local area.

Gallery

Images from the church,

graveyard A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite, graveyard, or a green space called a memorial park or memorial garden, is a place where the remains of many death, dead people are burial, buried or otherwise entombed. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek ...

and the sculptures and

windows: St Cadwaladr's Church, Llangadwaladr, Anglesey - Eglwys Llangadwaladr, Ynys Mon 44.jpg, The Church today Llangadwaladr - St Cadwaladr's Church, Llangadwaladr, Ynys Mon (Anglesey), Wales 06.jpg, Statue head St Cadwaladr's Church, Llangadwaladr, Anglesey - Eglwys Llangadwaladr, Ynys Mon 26.jpg, Celtic cross Dragon corbel at St Cadwaladr's Church, Llangadwaladr, Anglesey - Eglwys Llangadwaladr, Ynys Mon 07.jpg, Dragon corbel Croes Geltaidd Celtic Cross at St Cadwaladr's Church, Llangadwaladr, Anglesey - Eglwys Llangadwaladr, Ynys Mon 22.jpg, Honour for Owen Putland Meyrick. Seddi yn Eglwys Llangadwaladr Church - Eglwys Llangadwaladr, Anglesey, Wales 33.jpg, Indoor seating arrangement Eglwys Llangadwaladr church, Ynys Mon (Anglesey), Cymru (Wales) 03.jpg, The crucifixion of Christ, stained glass window c. 1490, restored 1850. Eglwys Llangadwaladr church, Ynys Mon (Anglesey), Cymru (Wales) 13.jpg, Scenes from the New Testament, glass . St Cadwaladr Church and Cemetery - geograph.org.uk - 776782.jpg, Cemetery Er cof am Owen Putland, Eglwys Llangadwaladr church, Ynys Mon (Anglesey), Cymru (Wales) 21.jpg, In honour of Owen Putland Meyrick, 1783. Bodowen Chapel.jpeg, Bodowen chapel built 1661, also coat of arms of

Sir Arthur Owen, 3rd Baronet Sir Arthur Owen, 3rd Baronet ( 1674–1753), of Orielton, Pembrokeshire, was a Welsh Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1695 and 1727. Early life Owen was the eldest surviving son Sir Hugh Owen, 2nd Bar ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Llangadwaladr, Saint Cadwaladr 12th-century church buildings in Wales 13th-century church buildings in Wales 14th-century church buildings in Wales Church in Wales church buildings in Anglesey Grade I listed churches in Anglesey