View of St Cwyfan's Church across a bay in the Irish Sea off the South West coast of Anglesey and near to Aberffraw, North Wales
St Cwyfan's Church is known as the Church in the Sea. It is to be found on a small tidal island called Cribinau located off the south west coast of Anglesey and close to the village of Aberffraw. Also known as Llangwyfan the church can be reached on foot at low tide. Old maps show the church standing on the mainland of Anglesey but erosion by the sea of the boulder clay cliffs has since separated the church from the mainland. The original site or "Llan" of Cwyfans would have been founded in the 7th Century and the building would have been of wattle and daub construction. The present building is said to date back to the 12th or 13th Century with the building undergoing many restorations. Some Norman masonry remains in the South wall, however the main body is 14th Century. The arched, braced roof timbers are partly 16th century. By the 19th Century the building was a roofless ruin but money was raised to repair the building and to build the massive sea defence walls that give the island it's distinctive shape. In the 21st Century the church was in the news when Cadw offered a grant to repair the building. The grant was conditional on the exterior of the building being finished in a cream coloured limewash. Locals were not happy with the colour scheme many preferring the weathered look of the old building but Cadw prevailed and St Cwyfan's Church joined the many old Welsh buildings to receive the fashionable limewash finish. In 2008 the church was in the news again when an organ was presented to the church that had to be carried across the causeway by church wardens and local farmers.
Size: 5184px × 3456px
Location: Cribinau Island, Aberffraw, Anglesey, North Wales, Great Britain, UK
Photo credit: © John Hopkins / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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