Churches and religious sites
Wales in general, and Anglesey in particular, is rich in ancient religious sites, not just churches but sacred wells and saints’ dwellings. The Wales Coast path has teamed up with the National Churches Trust to create nine unique walking itineraries There are three each on the Llyn Peninsula, Pembrokeshire and in Ceredigion. They combine invigorating coastal walks on the path which lead you to the doors of some very special spiritual places. Sadly none of their walks are on Anglesey.
However, GeoMon has plenty of its own walking itineraries, three of which include spiritual places.
Penmon
a spectacular headland with the Norman church, medieval priory and dovecot, and the ancient cell occupied by St Seriol and well carved out of the Carboniferous Limestone
Llanbadrig [just east of Cemaes]
a wonderful headland with the cave St Patrick lived in being an eroded block of Gwna limestone within the Melange.
![St PAtrick's cave : the saint reputedly took up residence in here having been shipwrecked on the coast nearby. He then founded the original [wooden] church on the cliffs above.](https://www.geomon.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cemaes-059-scaled.jpg)
St Gwenfaen’s well
on Rhoscolyn headland, a stone built structure in sandy deposits topping the impervious schistose rocks
The National Churches Trust’s website list many ancient churches on Anglesey
St Cwyfan’s church
St Cwyfan’s Church sits on a small tidal island surrounded by a sea wall by the name of Cribinau, which offers only a small pathway out to it, accessible only at mid-low tide. Situated on the west coast, this simple, Grade-II listed, medieval church known as the ‘little church in the sea’ has stood since the 12th Century. Clearly the church used to be much bigger. It is still used for services, though a little odd to see a bride crossing the ’causeway’ [just a line of stones!]
Originally built on a headland of glacial deposits, it became an island as the waves gradually eroded the soft sediments. These sediments – a mixture of glacial till [boulder clay], outwash sands and gravels and post glacial sediments are well exposed in the low cliffs around the bay. At one point, manganese concretions formed in the soil can be seen – reaching musket ball size – which feature in our Soil Trail.
The building is thought to be dedicated to St Kevin of Ireland, who founded the monastery across the sea at Glendalough in Wicklow. An article in the local paper explores some of its history.
