St Cwyllog's Church, Llangwyllog

St Cwyllog's Church, Llangwyllog
St Cwyllog's Church from the north-west, showing the annexe to the main church
St Cwyllog's Church, Llangwyllog Location in Anglesey
Coordinates: 53°17′25″N 4°21′03″W / 53.290160°N 4.350826°W / 53.290160; -4.350826
OS grid reference	SH 434 796
Location	Llangwyllog, Anglesey
Country	Wales, United Kingdom
Denomination	Church in Wales
History
Founded	6th century; earliest parts of the present building may be from c.1200
Founder(s)	St Cwyllog
Dedication	St Cwyllog
Architecture
Status	Church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	12 May 1970
Style	Medieval
Specifications
Length	45 ft 6 in (13.9 m)
Width	15 ft 3 in (4.6 m)
Other dimensions	Annexe at west end: 20 ft 6 in by 15 ft 6 in (6.25 by 4.72 m)
Materials	Rubble masonry and quoins
Administration
Parish	Llandrygarn with Bodwrog with Heneglwys with Trewalchmai with Llannerch-y-medd
Deanery	Malltraeth
Archdeaconry	Bangor
Diocese	Diocese of Bangor
Province	Province of Wales
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Vacant since December 2000

St Cwyllog's Church, Llangwyllog is a medieval church near Llangwyllog, in Anglesey, north Wales. St Cwyllog founded a church here in the 6th century, although the exact date is unknown. The existence of a church here was recorded in 1254 and parts of the present building may date from around 1200. Other parts are from the 15th century, with an unusual annexe (possibly intended for use as a schoolroom) added in the 16th century. The church contains some 18th-century fittings, including a rare Georgian three-decker pulpit and reading desk.

The church is still in use for worship by the Church in Wales, as one of seven churches in a combined group of parishes. It is a Grade II* listed building, a national designation given to "particularly important buildings of more than special interest", because it is regarded as a "good rural medieval church" with some features from the 15th century, as well as the 18th-century fittings.

St Cwyllog's Church is in a rural location in the middle of Anglesey, about 3 miles (5 km) north-west of Llangefni, the county town, and a short distance from the small village of Llangwyllog. The village takes its name from the church: the Welsh word llan originally meant "enclosure" and then "church", and "–gwyllog" is a modified form of the saint's name.

The first church on this site was established by Cwyllog, a female saint, in the 6th century, although the exact date is unknown. She was one of the daughters of St Caw, a king in northern Britain who lost his lands and sought safety with his family in Anglesey, where the ruler Maelgwn Gwynedd gave him land. There was a church here at the time of the Norwich Taxation in 1254, and the present walls may date from around 1200. In the 13th century, the church was under the control of the Augustinian canons of the priory at Penmon, on the east of Anglesey, with the priory gaining the income from the tithes paid to the church. The priory gradually diminished in size and importance, and in 1522 the prior and two canons (the entire community, at that stage) affixed their signature to the lease of Llangywllog church to Richard Bulkeley (a member of a prominent family from the Anglesey town of Beaumaris) for the period of 100 years at an annual rent of £1.