St Mary and Bodfan
Encyclopedia
St Mary and Bodfan Church is a church located in the village of Llanaber
in Wales
. St Mary and Bodfan is a Grade 1 listed building, which despite substantial restoration work in 1860,is an almost perfectly preserved 13th century building with lancet windows and arch-braced collar beams (16th century) to the chancel roof.
of the sixth century. This Bodfan may have been the son of Helig ap Glanawg
whose territory was destroyed by the great inundation that formed the Lanvan Sands which lie between the Great Orme's Head and the Menai Straits off the North Wales coast. After the disaster both Helig and his sons embraced a religious life. The Church at Aber, in Gwynedd
, is dedicated to St Bodfan and he may be the same saint associated with Llanaber. One of Bodfan's brothers was Celynin, who likewise has a church dedicated to him at Llangelynin in the Conwy Valley and at Llangelynin near Llwyngwril, a few miles south of Llanaber. Other brothers were Brothen, who founded the church at Llanfrothern and Boda and Gwynin who founded the church at Dwygyfylchi near Penmaenmawr
.
Bodfan, no doubt, built his church of wood and wattle but of that building no trace remains. With the coming of the Normans
the art of building in stone was also introduced and, following their custom, many Welsh dedications were either changed to, or coupled with, the names of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Apostles. Ancient maps refer to the church as St Bodfan's and an association with the saint is preserved in the name of the nearby Bodfan Farm, but the church is today more popularly known as St Mary's.
The plan of the church consists of a nave
, with north and south aisles, and a long narrow chancel
. Entering the church by the south porch, rebuilt in the nineteenth century, is the south doorway, reputed by many to be one of the finest examples of Early English architecture in the country. This doorway, built of yellow sandstone, is deeply recessed and is composed of six shafts on either side. The north door opposite is much narrower and of simple design.
The nave is divided on either side into five arcades. Here is an example of transition from Norman architecture to the Early English Style. The piers are Norman in character with foliated capitals from which spring pointed arches. The four clerestory
windows on either side of the nave are examples of Early English lancets, whilst the two long lancets of the west wall are part of the nineteenth century restoration.
The chancel, which is separated from the nave by an Early Enligh arch, is approached by a flight of steps, necessitated by the sloping nature of the site on which the church is built. The east window is a perfect example of a single Early English lancet with very wide splays and shafts in the inner arch.
The main roof timbers, both in the Nave and Chancel, date from the sixteenth century, whilst the ceiling above the sanctuary is panelled and its bosses and carvings picked out in gilt and colour.
In 1860 extensive work of restoration was carried out. The bell turret was rebuilt as well as most of the west wall with its heavy buttresses. The small vestry adjoining the north side of the chancel was also constructed at the same time on the site of a previous building.
The glass in the windows dates from the latter part of the nineteenth century and is on the whole good with the design in the clerestory windows depicting angels with musical instruments. Most of the monuments date from the nineteenth century.
The font
is octagonal in shape. The bowl is modern and it stands on a very much older shaft.
In 1969 the year of the Investiture of Prince Charles
as Prince of Wales, the church was again extensively restored. The timbers of the roofs were treated against woodworm and new timbers inserted where necessary. The seating of the church was also renewed with surplus pews from St John's Church, Barmouth. The Compton Two Manual and Pedal Organ, a memorial gift, was dedicated by the Bishop of Bangor, in whose Diocese the Parish is, on Trinity Sunday, 1 June 1969 (the eve of the feast of St Bodfan) at the time of the re-hallowing of the Church after Restoration.
Llanaber
Llanaber is a village in western Wales, near the resort of Barmouth.It is served by Llanaber railway station....
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. St Mary and Bodfan is a Grade 1 listed building, which despite substantial restoration work in 1860,is an almost perfectly preserved 13th century building with lancet windows and arch-braced collar beams (16th century) to the chancel roof.
History of the Founding of the Church
The first church on this site was probably built by Bodfan, a Celtic SaintCeltic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
of the sixth century. This Bodfan may have been the son of Helig ap Glanawg
Helig ap Glanawg
Helig ap Glanawg was a 6th-century prince who lived in North Wales.It is said that the river Conwy once reached the sea by the Great Orme, Llandudno, and to the west lay the great cantref of Gwaelod which stretched all the way to Puffin Island, off Anglesey.Helig ap Glanawg lived here, but in the...
whose territory was destroyed by the great inundation that formed the Lanvan Sands which lie between the Great Orme's Head and the Menai Straits off the North Wales coast. After the disaster both Helig and his sons embraced a religious life. The Church at Aber, in Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, is dedicated to St Bodfan and he may be the same saint associated with Llanaber. One of Bodfan's brothers was Celynin, who likewise has a church dedicated to him at Llangelynin in the Conwy Valley and at Llangelynin near Llwyngwril, a few miles south of Llanaber. Other brothers were Brothen, who founded the church at Llanfrothern and Boda and Gwynin who founded the church at Dwygyfylchi near Penmaenmawr
Penmaenmawr
PenmaenmawrConwyPenmaenmawr is a town in the parish of Dwygyfylchi, in Conwy County Borough, Wales. The population was 3857 in 2001. It is a quarrying town, though the latter is no longer a major employer, on the North Wales coast between Conwy and Llanfairfechan.The town was bypassed by the A55...
.
Bodfan, no doubt, built his church of wood and wattle but of that building no trace remains. With the coming of the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
the art of building in stone was also introduced and, following their custom, many Welsh dedications were either changed to, or coupled with, the names of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Apostles. Ancient maps refer to the church as St Bodfan's and an association with the saint is preserved in the name of the nearby Bodfan Farm, but the church is today more popularly known as St Mary's.
The current building
The present church dates from the early thirteenth century. One of its great benefactors was Hywel ap Meredydd ap Cynan, the Lord of Ardudwy, the commot which has given its name to the Rural Deanery of Ardudwy in which the Parish of Llanaber is situated. Hywel was a near relative of Llewelyn the Great.The plan of the church consists of a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, with north and south aisles, and a long narrow chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
. Entering the church by the south porch, rebuilt in the nineteenth century, is the south doorway, reputed by many to be one of the finest examples of Early English architecture in the country. This doorway, built of yellow sandstone, is deeply recessed and is composed of six shafts on either side. The north door opposite is much narrower and of simple design.
The nave is divided on either side into five arcades. Here is an example of transition from Norman architecture to the Early English Style. The piers are Norman in character with foliated capitals from which spring pointed arches. The four clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
windows on either side of the nave are examples of Early English lancets, whilst the two long lancets of the west wall are part of the nineteenth century restoration.
The chancel, which is separated from the nave by an Early Enligh arch, is approached by a flight of steps, necessitated by the sloping nature of the site on which the church is built. The east window is a perfect example of a single Early English lancet with very wide splays and shafts in the inner arch.
The main roof timbers, both in the Nave and Chancel, date from the sixteenth century, whilst the ceiling above the sanctuary is panelled and its bosses and carvings picked out in gilt and colour.
In 1860 extensive work of restoration was carried out. The bell turret was rebuilt as well as most of the west wall with its heavy buttresses. The small vestry adjoining the north side of the chancel was also constructed at the same time on the site of a previous building.
The glass in the windows dates from the latter part of the nineteenth century and is on the whole good with the design in the clerestory windows depicting angels with musical instruments. Most of the monuments date from the nineteenth century.
The Calixtus Stones
In the north west corner of the church will be found two ancient stones. One is the Calixtus Stone, placed in the Church in the 19th century and having been previously used as a footbridge on a neighbouring farm. The inscription has been read as: CAELIXTUS MONEDO REGI, and is thought to mean Calixtus King of Mona.Parish Registers
The parish registers date back to the year 1750. Interesting relics in the hcurch comprise two wooden collection boxes with handles and dated 1756 and 1774 respectively, whilst near the south entrance may be seen an old church warden's chest, cut out of a single log of wood.The font
Holy water font
A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is used in Catholic Church and Lutheran churches, as well as some Anglican churches to make the Sign of the Cross using the holy water upon entrance and exit...
is octagonal in shape. The bowl is modern and it stands on a very much older shaft.
In 1969 the year of the Investiture of Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
as Prince of Wales, the church was again extensively restored. The timbers of the roofs were treated against woodworm and new timbers inserted where necessary. The seating of the church was also renewed with surplus pews from St John's Church, Barmouth. The Compton Two Manual and Pedal Organ, a memorial gift, was dedicated by the Bishop of Bangor, in whose Diocese the Parish is, on Trinity Sunday, 1 June 1969 (the eve of the feast of St Bodfan) at the time of the re-hallowing of the Church after Restoration.