St Baglan's Church, Llanfaglan

St Baglan's Church, Llanfaglan
St Baglan's Church, Llanfaglan, from the southwest
St Baglan's Church, Llanfaglan Location in Gwynedd
Coordinates: 53°07′16″N 4°18′34″W / 53.1210°N 4.3095°W / 53.1210; -4.3095
OS grid reference	SH 455 606
Location	Llanfaglan, Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church in Wales
Website	Friends of Friendless Churches
History
Dedication	Baglan ap Dingad (Saint Baglan)
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	29 May 1968
Architectural type	Church
Groundbreaking	13th century (probable)
Completed	1800
Specifications
Materials	Stone, slate roofs

St Baglan's from the west

St Baglan's, interior

St Baglan's Church, Llanfaglan, is a redundant church in the parish of Llanfaglan, Gwynedd, Wales. It is designated by Cadw as a Grade I listed building,^[1] and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.^[2] It stands in an isolated position in a field some 150 metres (164 yd) from a minor road.^[1]

History

The size of the surrounding churchyard and the presence within the structure of the church of a stone dating from the 5th or 6th century is evidence that an earlier church or churches stood on the site. It is traditionally credited to its namesake, the 7th-century saint Baglan ap Dingad. The present church dates probably from the 13th century.^[3] The chancel was rebuilt in about 1800, when the north porch was also added. Unusually, the church escaped restoration during the Victorian era, and so its interior is still little changed since about 1800. The reason for this was that a new church was built in the village in 1847, unlike Llanwnda the neighbouring parish where the old church was demolished and a new one built on the same site. (Ifor Williams key holder) Describing the reasons for its Grade I listing, Cadw states it is "a rare example of a medieval church unrestored in the 19th century, so retaining an exceptionally complete set of 18th-century furnishings".^[1] It also comments on its "outstanding isolated setting."^[1] After it was declared redundant, the church was vested in the charity the Friends of Friendless Churches in 1991, and the charity has held the freehold since 7 February 1991.^[3] It has since been repaired, aided by financial help from Cadw.^[2]

Architecture

Exterior

The church is constructed in stone with slate roofs. Its plan consists of a nave and a chancel under a single roof, a south transept acting as a chapel, and a north porch. On the west gable is a bellcote, and on the chancel gable is a weathered cross. There are no windows in the nave, and the chancel has only a two-light east window. In the south and east walls of the transept are small two-light windows. Over the doorway is a lintel consisting of a 6th-century inscribed stone. Internally, the walls are plastered and whitewashed; the roof timbers are also whitewashed. The floor is paved with slate slabs. There is no division between the nave and the chancel, and the transept is fully open to the body of the church. The east window dates from the 14th century and was resited when the chancel was rebuilt.^[1]

Interior

Cadw describes the set of mid- and later 18th-century furniture as being "exceptional".^[1] The oak altar is enclosed by communion rails on three sides; the rails are supported by slender balusters and on the corner posts are finials. In the southwest corner of the chancel is an oak pulpit and a reading desk over which is a sounding board. The seating in the nave, chancel and transept consists of box pews and benches, some of which are inscribed with initials and dates. The font dates from the 13th or 14th century and consists of a heptagonal gritstone bowl on a heptagonal shaft.^[1] It is one of seven known seven-sided font in Wales, see Llafar Gwlad, gwanwyn 2017 article by Ifor Williams the key holder. On the walls of the church are slate memorial tablets.^[1] The bell is dated 1790, and was re-fitted in 2003. An early 19th-century brass candelabrum, a chalice dated 1723, and a silver salver of 1752 which were formerly in the church are now in the care of Bangor Cathedral.^[3]

Notable interments

The gravestone of local character Dafydd C Pritchard can be found in the cemetery, known as Dafydd 'Rabar, he ran the ferry across the Aber of Afon Seiont in Caernarfon before the bridge was built by the castle. Because he lost his livelyhood, he received a substantial compensation, and started a bakery business, that unfortunately went bust. His connections with Lloyd George initiated him to start a removals company called Pritchard Brothers that ran into the early 21st Century. His grave is the partly cleaned white marble one, to your right at almost the far end of the cemetry as you walk towards the porch. Ref Hanesion Tref Caernarfon T Meirion Hughes, gwasg y Lolfa.

On 20 January 2017, the church was the venue for the funeral of Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon. He was buried in the churchyard where the family has a plot.^[4]. Margaret Windsor was known locally as Magi Bont, as her husbands family home was in Y Bontnewydd.^[5]

External features

St Baglan's church, lychgate

Adjacent to the church is a field in which Baglan's well was sited. This was a structure containing seats, and it was said to have healing powers. It was filled in during the 19th century. The church is now approached through a lychgate dated 1722.^[3]

References

As the person who has looked after this church for over 15 years and the only person who has spent the same amount of time researching this church, the above citation by CADW is incorrect regarding the number of seven sided fonts in Wales, now corrected. Correct and up to date information on Llanfaglan church can be found here. https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfaglan

External links

Media related to St Baglan at Wikimedia Commons