Llangadwaladr

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St Cadwaladr's church, Llangadwaladr, Anglesey Eglwys St Cadwaladr Church.jpg
St Cadwaladr's church, Llangadwaladr, Anglesey

Llangadwaladr ( Welsh pronunciation i ) is a small village in south-west Anglesey, Wales, located around 2 miles east of Aberffraw and 3 miles south of Gwalchmai. It is part of the community of Bodorgan.

Contents

Early medieval Kings

The Catamanus stone has been present in Llangadwaladr since the 7th century.

King Cadfan's tombstone as an enhanced image. Cadfan.JPG
King Cadfan's tombstone as an enhanced image.

The village is a short distance from the ancient llys (English: royal court ) of the kings of Gwynedd, and is reputed to have been their royal burial ground. The inscription on one monumental stone in the St. Cadwaladr's Church (pictured) reads "Catamanus rex sapientisimus opinatisimus omnium regum" (English: King Cadfan, most wise and renowned of all kings), suggesting that Cadfan ap Iago (c. 569 – c. 625?) King of Gwynedd, is buried there. [2] One of the windows of St Cadwaladr's church dates from the 12th century. [3] Unusually, the advowson (right of presentation) of the benefice lay with the monarch rather than the bishop, until Disestablishment (1920).

The inscription is the subject of a "detective story" that interprets it as containing a series of coded messages, insulting to the deceased king. [4]

Notable people

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St Cadwaladr's Church is a Grade I listed church in Llangadwaladr, Anglesey. The location of the current church was established in the 7th century by the Kings of Gwynedd, after whom the church is named, King Cadwaladr. The Church standing today was built in the 'T' shape perpendicular style. The nave is dated to the 12th to early 13th century and the chancel to the 14th. Later the chapels were built, the north in 1640 and the southern Bodowen Chapel in 1661. Then, during 1856 the church underwent restoration, at which time to south porch was added.

References

  1. "St Cadwaladr". nationalchurchestrust.org. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  2. Lloyd, A History of Wales (vol. I, 1911), p. 182
  3. Princes of Gwynedd - Driving Tour Archived 2008-09-19 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Whispering Reeds, or, The Anglesey Catamanus Inscription Stript Bare. A detective story by Antony Charles Thomas. Oxbow Books 2002. ISBN   1 84217 085 6

53°11′44″N4°25′19″W / 53.1956°N 4.4219°W / 53.1956; -4.4219