St Iestyn's Church, Llaniestyn, Gwynedd

St Iestyn's Church is an active parish church in Llaniestyn, Gwynedd, Wales. The village lies in the centre of the Llŷn Peninsula, west of Pwllheli and south-west of Caernarfon. Cadw records that the church dates from the 13th century. It is a Grade I listed building.

St Iestyn's Church, Llaniestyn
St Iestyn's Church, Llaniestyn is located in Gwynedd
St Iestyn's Church, Llaniestyn
St Iestyn's Church, Llaniestyn
Location in Conwy County Borough
52°52′25″N 4°34′20″W / 52.8735°N 4.5723°W / 52.8735; -4.5723
OS grid referenceSH 269 337
LocationLlaniestyn, Gwynedd
CountryWales
DenominationChurch in Wales
History
StatusActive
DedicationSaint Iestyn
Associated peopleReverend Dr K S Ellis (Ministry Area Leader)
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated19 October 1971
Architectural typeChurch
Groundbreaking13th century
Administration
DioceseBangor
ArchdeaconryMeirionnydd
DeanerySynod Meirionnydd
ParishBro Madryn

History

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The village of Llaniestyn stands 13 km west of Pwllheli and 42 km south-west of Caernarfon. The church stands in the centre and is dedicated to Saint Iestyn. A Welsh hermit of the 6th or 7th centuries, Llaniestyn Church, and another, St Iestyn's Church, Llaniestyn on Anglesey, are the only two churches dedicated to him. The church dates from the 13th century.[1] Later medieval additions were made in the 14th and 15th centuries.[2] The church was restored by the Bangor Diocesan architect, Henry Kennedy, in 1858.[a][1]

The church remains an active parish church in the Diocese of Bangor and regular services are held.[6]

Architecture and description

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Richard Haslam, Julian Orbach and Adam Voelcker, in their 2009 edition Gywnedd, in the Buildings of Wales series, describe the church as to a "double-nave" plan.[7] Both Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) consider the large second nave a matching South aisle.[1][2] The slate roof has a bellcote. The construction material is local rubble.[1] St Mary's is a Grade I listed building.[1] Two adjacent cottages, Ty'n llan and Ty'n Llan Bach, formed the 17th century rectory and are listed at Grade II.[8][9] In 1724, the vicar Rev. Owen Owen, built a new rectory to the north of the church, which is also now sub-divided and both elements listed at Grade II.[10][11]

Notes

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  1. ^ The Church in Wales Historic Record for the building attributes the restoration to D. Roberts of Beaumaris and dates it to 1855.[3] This is likely a confusion with the restoration of the Anglesey church, which both Cadw and Pevsner attribute to D. Roberts and date to 1865.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Cadw. "Church of St Iestyn (Grade I) (4258)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "St Iestyn's Church, Llaniestyn (43750)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Church Heritage Record 2137: St Iestyn's Church, Llaniestyn". Church in Wales. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  4. ^ Cadw. "Church of St Iestyn (Grade II*) (5545)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  5. ^ Haslam, Orbach & Voelcker 2009, p. 146.
  6. ^ "St Iestyn, Llaniestyn". Church in Wales. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  7. ^ Haslam, Orbach & Voelcker 2009, p. 446.
  8. ^ Cadw. "Ty'n Llan (Grade II) (4259)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  9. ^ Cadw. "Ty'n Llan Bach (Grade II) (19446)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  10. ^ Cadw. "The Old Rectory (Grade II) (4379)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  11. ^ Cadw. "Rectory Cottage (Grade II) (19445)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 9 September 2024.

Sources

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