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

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. 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". It also comments on its "outstanding isolated setting." 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. It has since been repaired, aided by financial help from Cadw.

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.