Llanfaglan St Baglan

Near Caernarfon, Caernarfonshire

OS Number: SH 455 606

Click to read the history of Llanfaglan in Welsh, prepared by our Local Friends

St Baglan’s church lies in a wonderfully romantic position overlooking Caernarfon Bay set in splendid isolation in its large field. Do take time to examine the churchyard which is the responsibility of the local authority. The form suggests pre-Christian origins and there is unpretentious vernacular charm in the boundary wall, the entrance gate with the churchwarden’s inscription and the range of slate headstones and chest tombs. The church itself, which is now owned by the Friends and has been repaired with substantial assistance from Cadw, dates in its earliest walling from the thirteenth century although it took four centuries more to acquire its present configuration.

As you enter the church do look on top of the eastern wall of the porch where you will find an extremely early re-used carved stone of the fifth or sixth century. A similar stone has been placed as a lintol over the inner face of the porch door. The interior is evocative of eighteenth century social life in the mixture of modest open-back seating and the grander box-pews for the wealthier villagers who as you will see often added their own date and signature.

We shall be re-limewashing the interior in a year or two.

If you would like to visit the church and need details of keyholders, directions etc, please telephone our office on: 020 7236 3934.

Friends of Friendless Churches is a company limited by guarantee
Company No: 1119137, registered in England.
Registered Office: St Ann's Vestry Hall, 2 Church Entry, London EC4V 5HB.
Registered Charity No: 1113097.