St Mary's Church, Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf

St Mary's Church, Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf
The south side of the church
St Mary's Church, Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf location in Anglesey
Coordinates: 53°19′19″N 4°14′36″W / 53.32182°N 4.243464°W / 53.32182; -4.243464
OS grid reference	SH 506 829
Location	Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf, Anglesey
Country	Wales, United Kingdom
Denomination	Church in Wales
Website	Parish website
History
Founded	14th century
Dedication	St Mary
Architecture
Status	Church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	12 May 1970
Architect(s)	Henry Kennedy (1847 renovations)
Style	Medieval
Specifications
Length	52 ft 6 in (16.0 m)
Nave width	16 ft 3 in (5.0 m)
Materials	Rubble masonry
Administration
Parish	Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf with Llanbedrgoch with Pentraeth
Deanery	Tindaethwy and Menai
Archdeaconry	Bangor
Diocese	Diocese of Bangor
Province	Province of Wales
Clergy
Rector	Venerable R P Davies

St Mary's Church, Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf is a small medieval church in Anglesey, north Wales. The earliest parts of the building, including the nave and the north doorway, date from the 14th century. Other parts, including the chancel and the east window, date from the 15th century. It is associated with the Welsh poet and clergyman Goronwy Owen, who was born nearby and served as curate here. He later travelled to America to teach at The College of William & Mary, Virginia.

The church is still in use for worship, as part of the Church in Wales, as one of three churches in the combined parish of Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf with Llanbedrgoch with Pentraeth. It is a Grade II* listed building, a national designation given to "particularly important buildings of more than special interest", because it is a "good rural church retaining substantial medieval fabric."

St Mary's Church is situated near the east coast of Anglesey, north Wales. It is by the side of a country road near the village of Brynteg. The parish includes the coastal resort of Benllech. The parish takes its name in part from the church: the Welsh word llan originally meant "enclosure" and then "church", and "-fair" is a modified form of Mary (Mair in Welsh). "Mathafarn Eithaf" translates as "area (or field) of the tavern".

It is a medieval church, and the oldest part of the building is the nave, which dates from the 14th century. The chancel and the arch between nave and chancel were added in the following century. The architect of the Diocese of Bangor, Henry Kennedy, carried out work on the church in 1847. He added a vestry on the north side and a porch to the south, as well as making some other alterations and additions, such as the re-roofing of the chancel.