St Gwyddelan's Church . . .
This beautiful parish church is dedicated to St Gwyddelan (‘the little Irishman’), a Celtic missionary from Ireland who helped restore Christianity in Britain in the 5th century.
The original village church was situated on a nearby hill known as Bryn-y-Bedd. It was demolished by Meredudd Wynn, an ancestor of the influential Wynn family of Gwydir, and rebuilt on this site in the 15th century.
Meredudd took this drastic action due to the problems with outlaws and robbers who were living in sanctuary at St John's Hospice, Ysbyty Ifan. For many years these outlaws terrorised the village and would ransack Meredudd's home when he attended worship in the old church on Bryn y Bedd.
Relocating the church here in a more open site and closer to his home in Cwm Penamnen, meant that Meredudd could post 'lookouts' during church services, who would raise the alarm when an attack from the outlaws was imminent.
Entering the church is like taking a step back in time, and as you explore you will come across several original features, including a sanctuary knocker on the main church door; the 15th century rood screen; and a rare surviving example of a ‘poor box’.
Other things to look out for in St Gwyddelan’s . . .
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The Dolwyddelan Dragon: A carved timber dragon on a north-side chancel beam, tied to local folklore about a flood-causing river monster.
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Cloche Gwyddelan: In the centre aisle, if you look up you will see an old Celtic bell hanging from the beam. It was dug up in 1850, on the site of the original church. An ancient 7th-century handbell believed to have been brought from Ireland by St Gwyddelan
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Near the front of the nave is a pew carved with the Welsh phrase, 'Maingc i'r dyla i clyw', which translates loosely as 'a bench for those who are hard of hearing'.