St Cadwaladr's Church, Llangadwaladr

The Welsh diocese of the former Kingdom of Gwynedd was founded {{circa|546}} by Saint Deiniol (Daniel) as the first Bishop of Gwynedd in the Diocese of Bangor.{{cite DWB|id=s-DEIN-IOL-0584|title=DEINIOL (died 584), saint, founder of Bangor and first bishop in Gwynedd}} Around 615 AD the current location of St. Cadwaladr's Church was established as royal monastery by the Kings of Gwynedd.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/st-cadwaladr-llangadwaladr| website=nationalchurchestrust.org|title=St. Cadwaladr|access-date=19 September 2023}} 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, {{langx|cy|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.{{cite DWB|id=s-CADW-APC-0615|title=CADWALADR (died 664), prince}} 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 {{circa|1640}} and rebuilt in 1801, whilst the south chapel (Owen) was built {{circa|1661}}. Then the south Church porch was built in 1856, completing the church which stands today.{{cite web| url=http://stainedglass.llgc.org.uk/site/166| website=stainedglass.llgc.org.uk|title=Church of St. Cadwaladr, Llangadwaladr, Anglesey|access-date=19 September 2023}}

File:Catamanus Stone, in Llangadwaladr church. November 2018.jpg

File:Cadfan.JPG

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 {{circa|634}}:{{cite DNB|wstitle=Cadvan (d.617? or 634?)|author-first=Thomas Frederick|author-last=Tout|authorlink=Thomas Frederick Tout|page=190}}

{{blockquote|{{langx|la|CATAMANUS REX SAPIENTIS MUS OPINATISM US OMNIUM REG UM}}.
{{langx|en|King Cadfan, the Wisest and Most Renowned of All Kings}}.}}

File:Stained glass window at Llangadwaladr Church - Eglwys Llangadwaladr, Anglesey, Wales 48.jpg

It was during the Tudor period that the church was given stained glass windows as a gift from the Meyrick family ({{langx|cy|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, and 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.{{cite DWB|id=s-MEYR-BOD-1485|title=MEYRICK family, Bodorgan, Anglesey.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wmEWGQ_St_Cadwaladrs_Church_Windows_Llangadwaladr_Anglesey_North_Wales_UK| website=waymarking.com|title=St. Cadwaladr's church windows|access-date=19 September 2023}} 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.{{google book|title=RCAHMW, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Anglesey |id=d0nwILR1UQEC&num|page=86-87|volume=2|publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales}} An inscription for the {{circa|1485}} (Tudor period) glass stained window reads:

{{blockquote|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.

During the 17th century, an addition of two chapels 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 colonel Royalist) from 1660 in the chapel.{{cite DWB|id=s-OWEN-BOD-1545|title=OWEN family, of Bodeon (Bodowen), Anglesey}} 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 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.

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.[http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2072326/LLANGADWALADR%20(ST.%20CADWALADR)%20CHURCHYARD] CWGC Cemetery report, details from casualty record. Today the church is a part of the benefice of Bro Cadwaladr parish with 7 other churches in the local area.{{cite web|url=https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/structure/parish/2145/|title=Bro Cadwaladr|website=churchinwales.org|access-date =19 September 2023}}

Images from the church, graveyard and the sculptures and stained glass windows:{{cite web|url=http://imagingthebible.llgc.org.uk//site/166|title=Church of St Cadwaladr, Llangadwaladr, Anglesey|website=imagingthebible.llgc.org.uk|access-date=19 September 2023}}

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 crucification 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 {{circa|1860}}.

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.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924092524382/page/130/mode/2up?view=theater|website=archive.org|title=Complete Baronetage|access-date=19 September 2023|author=George Cokayne|author-link=George Edward Cokayne|date=1900}}

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{{Anglesey churches}}

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Category:12th-century church buildings in Wales

Category:13th-century church buildings in Wales

Category:14th-century church buildings in Wales

Category:Church in Wales church buildings in Anglesey

Category:Grade I listed churches in Anglesey