St Cybi, Holyhead
One of Anglesey's grandest and most historic churches, St Cybi's stands within the walls of the 4th century Roman fort. The church was comprehensively restored in 1877 by the eminent architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. Inside, the Stanley Chapel contains glorious stained glass by William Morris and Sir Edward Burne-Jones, and a magnificent tomb of Italian Carrara marble depicting a recumbent figure guarded by angels, commemorating William Owen Stanley, one of Holyhead's greatest benefactors.
Eglwys y Bedd, the building next to the church, dates from the fourteenth century but is believed to be the site of St Cybi’s burial in 555 AD.
St Cybi, Holyhead
Stanley St, Holyhead LL65 1HG
W3W: https://w3w.co/cubes.centrally.shook
Opening times: St Cybi's volunteers are on site 11am - 3pm Monday to Friday
Parking: Nearest car park is Swift St car park adjacent to the church. Time limit 2 hrs.
2 hour parking also on coast road opposite lower gate of churchyard.
Longer parking available next to Mr Chippy (towards Newry Beach).
Toilet: in town (in Market Hall / Library).
Website: www.holyheadparishchurches.co.uk/
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/27500
St Gwenfaen, Rhoscolyn
On a raised site with sweeping views across to Snowdonia and the Llŷn Peninsula, St Gwenfaen's has roots dating back to 630 AD, when the saint herself is said to have made her cell here. Rebuilt in the 1870s by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the church is a treasure-house of Victorian craftsmanship, including stunning stained glass designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and James Hogan, a 15th-century font and a rare glass mosaic reredos.
LL65 2SQ
W3W: https://w3w.co/shuttled.traders.repay
Open 8am-dusk.
Parking: on road around the church or around the corner near the Church Hall.
Nearest toilet at The White Eagle pub or Church Hall if they are open.
Website: https://stgwenfaen.org/
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/43597
St Bigail
With origins documented as far back as 1254, this simple rectangular church owes its present character to an 18th-century rebuilding by local squire William Morris and a Victorian refit in 1841. Its interior is a fascinating social document - box-pews for the gentry at the east end, backless benches for the poor to the west, and a commanding double-decker pulpit on the north wall. Most remarkably, three fonts line the west wall, spanning seven centuries of Christian worship on this site.
St Bigail’s is now in the care of Friends of Friendless Churches.
Llanfigail, LL65 4DB
W3W: https://w3w.co/education.seriously.asterisk
Open daily
Parking: on road around the church
Website: friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/church/st-bigails-llanfigael-anglesey/
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/43143
St Pabo
St Pabo's is dedicated to Pabo, a 6th century King of North Britain (Yr Hen Gogledd), who after being expelled from his lands was granted sanctuary on Anglesey. His tomb slab on the north wall - carved with the figure of a crowned, bearded king and inscribed - Hic Iacet Pabo Post Prud – would once have been part of his shrine and remains one of Anglesey's most evocative early medieval treasures.
Llanbabo, Rhosgoch LL66 0BL.
W3W: https://w3w.co/speaker.bars.shred
Open daily
Parking: on road around the church
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/91214
St Tyfrydog
Said to be founded in the 5th century by St Tyfrydog, this atmospheric church carries a wonderfully vivid legend: a Bible thief fleeing across the fields with his stolen goods was turned to stone by the saint, and his lichen-covered form still stands in the fields to the south - a timeless warning to wrongdoers. Despite two Victorian restorations, the church retains much of its medieval character, including a fine 15th-century chancel arch, Gothic windows, and charming Georgian-style box pews from an 1832 restoration.
Lon Leidr
Llandyfrydog, LL71 8AG
Currently closed for repairs
W3W: https://w3w.co/tree.dramatic.carriage
Parking: on road
Website: friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/church/st-tyfrydogs-llandyfrydog-anglesey/
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/43649
St Michael
Standing on what was once the site of a royal court of the Princes of Gwynedd, St Michael's may well have served as a royal chapel before Edward I's conquest of North Wales in 1282. The church retains medieval chancel roof beams and 15th-century features including the east window, north door and chancel arch. Inside, a 6th-century stone is inscribed with the Latin ‘Hic iacit Maccudecceti’ – ‘here lies Maccudecceti’. In the churchyard 45 victims of the tragic 1859 Royal Charter shipwreck are buried. Most of the other victims lie at nearby Llanallgo church.
LL71 8BW
W3W: https://w3w.co/turntable.reserved.spaceship
Parking: on road
Open daily
Website: broeleth.churchinwales.org.uk/stmichael/
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/43634
St Gallgo
Founded in the 6th century by St Gallgo, the present church is the result of two restorations in the 19th century. Its 13th-century bell, inscribed Ave Maria gracia plena and bearing the imprint of an Edward I penny, is among the oldest in the Diocese of Bangor. In the churchyard is a poignant memorial: 140 victims of the 1859 Royal Charter shipwreck are buried here, commemorated by an obelisk. Charles Dickens visited the area at the time to write about the tragedy and stayed in the Rectory next door.
Llanallgo, LL72 8NE.
W3W: https://w3w.co/denote.modem.puncture
Parking: There is a small car park next to the church.
Open daily.
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/43604
St Dona
Down a steep hill near the coast, the original church of St Dona is believed to have been founded in 610 AD, making this one of Anglesey's most ancient Christian sites. The present church was rebuilt in 1873 under the direction of its own Rector, Rev’d Peter Jones, and retains the font and south doorway from its predecessor. An unusual detail is the dated stone of 1566 above the east window which has been set in upside-down. The 1963 east window is a magnificent Christ in Majesty designed by Celtic Studios
Llanddona, Beaumaris LL58 8UT.
W3W: https://w3w.co/palace.copying.narrating
Limited parking on road by the church.
Open daily.
https://broseiriol.net/
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/27534
St Michael, Llanfihangel Din Sylwy
This tiny, unspoiled church sits in a churchyard within sight of the sea, with Ynys Seiriol clearly visible on the horizon. The interior retains much of its medieval character, and the clear leaded glass windows give the space a wonderful simplicity. A 14th-century bell inscribed Santa Maria and a fine ornately carved hexagonal pulpit from 1628 are among its treasures. With no electricity and lit only by its Victorian oil lamps, this church is one of Anglesey's most atmospheric places of pilgrimage.
Llanddona, Beaumaris LL58 8YB.
W3W: https://w3w.co/gradually.fortunes.fruits
Parking: access to the church from the road is across a field. Very limited on road parking.
Open daily.
https://broseiriol.net/
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/43631
St Seiriol, Penmon
A hauntingly beautiful place, a wooden church was founded here by St Seiriol in the 6th century. The present 12th-century church replaced an earlier building destroyed by Viking raiders, and the site later became an Augustinian priory, whose ruins still create a dramatic setting.
Pilgrims can explore the holy well, medieval refectory, fishpond and dovecot, as well as two magnificent 10th-century stone crosses inside the church, carved with intricate interlace in Irish and Scandinavian styles.
Further down the road, at Penmon Point, you can stop for a coffee at the Pilot House Café and enjoy views across to Penmon Lighthouse, as well as Ynys Seiriol and the tower of its ruined medieval church.
Beaumaris LL58 8SP.
W3W: https://w3w.co/zoos.topical.avocado
Parking: There is a Pay & Display car park alongside the church and Cadw site.
https://broseiriol.net/
Coflein: https://coflein.gov.uk/en/sites/301734
