On a tiny island at the western fringes of Ynys Môn, encircled by the Irish Sea, in the silhouette of the mighty Wicklow Mountains, sits a landmark.

A beacon to the heavens.

A church in the sea.

The simple, spellbinding St Cwyfan's.

THREAD 👇
On a tiny island at the western fringes of Ynys Môn, encircled by the Irish Sea, in the silhouette of the mighty Wicklow Mountains, sits a landmark.A beacon to the heavens.A church in the sea.The simple, spellbinding St Cwyfan's.THREAD
On a tiny island at the western fringes of Ynys Môn, encircled by the Irish Sea, in the silhouette of the mighty Wicklow Mountains, sits a landmark.A beacon to the heavens.A church in the sea.The simple, spellbinding St Cwyfan's.THREAD
On a tiny island at the western fringes of Ynys Môn, encircled by the Irish Sea, in the silhouette of the mighty Wicklow Mountains, sits a landmark.A beacon to the heavens.A church in the sea.The simple, spellbinding St Cwyfan's.THREAD
On a tiny island at the western fringes of Ynys Môn, encircled by the Irish Sea, in the silhouette of the mighty Wicklow Mountains, sits a landmark.A beacon to the heavens.A church in the sea.The simple, spellbinding St Cwyfan's.THREAD
Perched on the heart-shaped islet of Cribinau, safe from the ravages of the ocean behind a dramatic sea wall, the enchanting medieval church dates to the 12th century.

It's dedicated to St. Kevin, the Irishman who founded Glendalough monastery across the water in County Wicklow.
Perched on the heart-shaped islet of Cribinau, safe from the ravages of the ocean behind a dramatic sea wall, the enchanting medieval church dates to the 12th century.It's dedicated to St. Kevin, the Irishman who founded Glendalough monastery across the water in County Wicklow.
Perched on the heart-shaped islet of Cribinau, safe from the ravages of the ocean behind a dramatic sea wall, the enchanting medieval church dates to the 12th century.It's dedicated to St. Kevin, the Irishman who founded Glendalough monastery across the water in County Wicklow.
While the placement of "Eglwys Bach y Môr" (Little Church in the Sea) may seem perilous, it wasn't always so.

St Cwyfan's was built at the end of a peninsula between two bays, Porth China and Porth Cwyfan.

But the sea slowly eroded the coastline, and the peninsula was cut off.
While the placement of "Eglwys Bach y Môr" (Little Church in the Sea) may seem perilous, it wasn't always so. St Cwyfan's was built at the end of a peninsula between two bays, Porth China and Porth Cwyfan.But the sea slowly eroded the coastline, and the peninsula was cut off.
While the placement of "Eglwys Bach y Môr" (Little Church in the Sea) may seem perilous, it wasn't always so. St Cwyfan's was built at the end of a peninsula between two bays, Porth China and Porth Cwyfan.But the sea slowly eroded the coastline, and the peninsula was cut off.
While the placement of "Eglwys Bach y Môr" (Little Church in the Sea) may seem perilous, it wasn't always so. St Cwyfan's was built at the end of a peninsula between two bays, Porth China and Porth Cwyfan.But the sea slowly eroded the coastline, and the peninsula was cut off.
While the placement of "Eglwys Bach y Môr" (Little Church in the Sea) may seem perilous, it wasn't always so. St Cwyfan's was built at the end of a peninsula between two bays, Porth China and Porth Cwyfan.But the sea slowly eroded the coastline, and the peninsula was cut off.
St Cwyfan was at the centre of controversy in the 1700s…

An English-speaking priest was appointed to lead the Welsh-speaking congregation.

A 1773 ecclesiastical court ruled that he should not have been appointed, but the priest remained in post until his death later that year.
By the 1800s, storms had pummelled the graveyard to such an extent, ancient graves were falling into the sea.

And so a vast seawall was built around the island to protect the historic cemetery and church.
By the 1800s, storms had pummelled the graveyard to such an extent, ancient graves were falling into the sea. And so a vast seawall was built around the island to protect the historic cemetery and church.
By the 1800s, storms had pummelled the graveyard to such an extent, ancient graves were falling into the sea. And so a vast seawall was built around the island to protect the historic cemetery and church.
By the 1800s, storms had pummelled the graveyard to such an extent, ancient graves were falling into the sea. And so a vast seawall was built around the island to protect the historic cemetery and church.
St Cwyfan's is a stone-walled structure consisting of a single continuous nave and chancel (see diagram).

The building has been updated multiple times in the last 800 years—the roof is thought to be 16th century, while the walls were repaired, re-rendered and limewashed in 2006.
St Cwyfan's is a stone-walled structure consisting of a single continuous nave and chancel (see diagram).The building has been updated multiple times in the last 800 years—the roof is thought to be 16th century, while the walls were repaired, re-rendered and limewashed in 2006.
St Cwyfan's is a stone-walled structure consisting of a single continuous nave and chancel (see diagram).The building has been updated multiple times in the last 800 years—the roof is thought to be 16th century, while the walls were repaired, re-rendered and limewashed in 2006.
St Cwyfan's is a stone-walled structure consisting of a single continuous nave and chancel (see diagram).The building has been updated multiple times in the last 800 years—the roof is thought to be 16th century, while the walls were repaired, re-rendered and limewashed in 2006.
St Cwyfan's is a stone-walled structure consisting of a single continuous nave and chancel (see diagram).The building has been updated multiple times in the last 800 years—the roof is thought to be 16th century, while the walls were repaired, re-rendered and limewashed in 2006.
An intensely spiritual setting, the evocative St Cwyfan's Church – on the tidal island of Cribinau – can be reached on foot at low tide.

More 👉

⛪️ https://www.anglesey-history.co.uk/places/churches_and_chapels/Llangwyfan/index.html
🌊 https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300004382-church-of-st-cwyfan-tudweiliog#.XwiUAJNKjlw
🌅 https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/limeworkstcwyfan/limeworkstcwyfan.htm
An intensely spiritual setting, the evocative St Cwyfan's Church – on the tidal island of Cribinau – can be reached on foot at low tide.More https://www.anglesey-history.co.uk/places/churches_and_chapels/Llangwyfan/index.html https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300004382-church-of-st-cwyfan-tudweiliog#.XwiUAJNKjlw https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/limeworkstcwyfan/limeworkstcwyfan.htm
An intensely spiritual setting, the evocative St Cwyfan's Church – on the tidal island of Cribinau – can be reached on foot at low tide.More https://www.anglesey-history.co.uk/places/churches_and_chapels/Llangwyfan/index.html https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300004382-church-of-st-cwyfan-tudweiliog#.XwiUAJNKjlw https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/limeworkstcwyfan/limeworkstcwyfan.htm
An intensely spiritual setting, the evocative St Cwyfan's Church – on the tidal island of Cribinau – can be reached on foot at low tide.More https://www.anglesey-history.co.uk/places/churches_and_chapels/Llangwyfan/index.html https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300004382-church-of-st-cwyfan-tudweiliog#.XwiUAJNKjlw https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/limeworkstcwyfan/limeworkstcwyfan.htm
An intensely spiritual setting, the evocative St Cwyfan's Church – on the tidal island of Cribinau – can be reached on foot at low tide.More https://www.anglesey-history.co.uk/places/churches_and_chapels/Llangwyfan/index.html https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300004382-church-of-st-cwyfan-tudweiliog#.XwiUAJNKjlw https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/limeworkstcwyfan/limeworkstcwyfan.htm
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