St Patrick : Llanbadrig
St Patrick : Llanbadrig. Legend says that in 440 AD a bishop called Patrick was travelling from Iona to Ireland when he was shipwrecked off the coast of Anglesey. Having made his way ashore from the small islet now known as Ynys Badrig (St. Patrick’s Island), he took refuge in a small cave with a nearby well. Patrick commemorated his escape from danger by founding the original Eglwys Llanbadrig – Saint Patrick’s Church. This would make it the oldest church in Wales.
Presumably this original church was very simple and constructed of wood as was the normal fashion then. This was first replaced with a stone version in the 12th century, and subsequently extended in the 14th century by the addition of a chancel. There is a wonderful fine sandstone font dated to the 12th century. A detailed examination of ancient manuscripts was published by Deborah Crawford
Lord Stanley of Alderley had converted to Islam. Living nearby in Penrhos, Holyhead, he donated a substantial sum of money to refurbish the interior of the church to reflect his new faith. There is a breathtaking contrast between the simple stone exterior and the dramatic Muslim interior, with blue tiles and blue glazed windows, and (originally) a complete absence of images, statues and other figures.
The rocks here are the world famous Melange, so christened by Edward Greenly when mapping Anglesey because they are literally a complete mixture of limestone, quartzite and green schist.
St Patrick’s Cave is still there, marked by a plaque up on the cliffs overlooking the spot, but the way to the cave itself is steep and dangerous.
The cave is actually a hole left where a part of a block of limestone has dissolved away. Similar hollows can be seen everywhere in the Melange, sometimes where humans have quarried the limestone to make lime for the acid soils or for lime mortar. There is a lime kiln just above the cave.
The church is a very quiet tranquil place, nestling on the cliff. Inside [after renovations, fires and restoration] the decoration is unique, with blue Islamic tiles alongside a very ancient carved stone!
