St Mary
Penllech, Gwynedd
Set on the Llyn Peninsula, St Mary is medieval in origin but the font is the only survivor of this age, a roughly hewn monolith in brown stone, painted white on its inner face, almost sunk into the shaft beneath.
The last parish of RS Thomas poet and priest, one of Wales greatest Welsh poets writing in English.
This pilgrim church was established in 516 by Hywyn a cousin of Cadfan who built the monastery on the Sacred Island of Bardsey (Enlli in Welsh) 3 miles offshore from Aberdaron.
Only the doorway remains from the Norman church. It is very worn, not surprising since the sea is only yards away. Inside, the church is spacious and full of light reflected off the sea. The fine old timber roofs are from the 16th century building work. There are the gravestones of Roman Presbyters from the 6th century, who brought Christianity to this remote corner of Wales. Their age means they probably predate the monastery on Bardsey Island.
The stone church was built in the 11th century as the final resting place for pilgrims before crossing the treacherous waters of Bardsey Sound to reach their destinaton on the sacred Island.
In the 21st century it is still a place of refuge, restoration and prayerful peace for the modern pilgrim and tourists on their own spiritual journeys. The services are bilingual, giving visitors an authentic experience of the living Welsh language.