St Eleth's Church, Amlwch

St Eleth's Church, Amlwch
St Eleth's Church from the south-east
St Eleth's Church, Amlwch Location in Anglesey
Coordinates: 53°24′36″N 4°20′43″W / 53.410074°N 4.345189°W / 53.410074; -4.345189
OS grid reference	SH 441 929
Location	Amlwch, Anglesey
Country	Wales, United Kingdom
Denomination	Church in Wales
History
Founded	6th century (reputedly)
Founder(s)	St Eleth (reputedly)
Dedication	St Eleth
Consecrated	1800 (current building)
Architecture
Status	Church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	25 October 1951
Architect(s)	James Wyatt
Style	Neo-classical
Construction cost	£2,500 to £4,000 (c. £182,000 to £291,300 in present-day terms)
Specifications
Materials	Rubble masonry with ashlar dressing
Administration
Parish	Amlwch
Deanery	Twrcelyn
Archdeaconry	Bangor
Diocese	Diocese of Bangor
Province	Province of Wales
Clergy
Priest in charge	H. V. Jones

St Eleth's Church, Amlwch is a parish church built in the Neo-classical style in 1800 in Amlwch, a town on the island of Anglesey in north Wales. It stands on the site of earlier buildings, with the first church here said to have been established by St Elaeth (or Eleth) in the 6th century. Increasing prosperity in the town through copper mining during the 18th century led to the construction of a new church to serve the growing population.

The church is still used for services within the Church in Wales, and is one of four churches in the parish of Amlwch. It is a Grade II* listed building, a designation given to "particularly important buildings of more than special interest", because it is a "substantially Neo-classical church retaining much of its original architectural character".

The first church in the area was reputedly established in the 6th century by Elaeth, or Eleth. He was a ruler from northern Britain who fled to Anglesey in north Wales when ousted from power, settling at St Seiriol's monastery at Penmon.

Amlwch grew and became increasingly prosperous during the 18th century after copper mining began at nearby Parys Mountain in 1768. As a result, the church became too small. Planning for a replacement church began in 1787 when Thomas Williams, "the Copper King", offered £600 (approximately £68,800 in present-day terms). The Copper Mines Company provided the majority of the money required for the new church; Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge, and the Reverend Edward Hughes (a co-owner of the mines) also made donations. Work eventually got underway and the church, designed by the architect James Wyatt, was built and consecrated in 1800. Different figures for the cost of construction are given by two 19th-century writers: in 1833, Angharad Llwyd said that the cost was £4,000 (approximately £291,300 in present-day terms) but in 1849, Samuel Lewis stated it to have been £2,500 (approximately £182,000 in present-day terms).