St Tanwg'S Church, Llandanwg

St Tanwg's Church, Llandanwg, also known as "the church in the sand", is an early medieval church dedicated to St Tanwg in the village of Llandanwg, Gwynedd, Wales. The church is a Grade I listed building. LocationThe church is located in sand dunes, about 20m from the high water mark of St George's Channel, at the southern end of the village of Llandanwg. The church is also known as "the church in the sand". To the south west of the church is the mouth of the River Artro. HistoryThe current building is medieval, with the western end possibly dating back to the 13th century. However, the presence of 6th century inscribed stones, and the dedication to St Tanwg, suggest much earlier use of the site as a church, possibly dating to around 453 AD as part of St Patrick's work to establish links between Ireland and Britain. St Tanwg's was extended to the east, including a tall east window and the addition of a rood screen, in the 15th century. The church was restored in the 17th century when windows were rebuilt and changed. This was also probably when a choir loft was removed and floor beams moved to the back of the church. The initials REP and date 1685, which are cut into a cross incised stone on the west gable, may date this period of alteration. The first recorded incumbent for the parish was Rector Thomas Humphrey in 1662. The floor of the church was flagged in 1786 and, three years later, some medieval paintings were lost during replastering and repainting of the walls. St Tanwg's church had been the parish church for the parish of Llandanwg, which included the small town of Harlech, for hundreds of years but between 1839 and 1841 a new parish church (also dedicated to St Tanwg) was built in Harlech. The old church was abandoned, and the 15th century octagonal font, bell and other furnishings, removed to the new building. The church soon fell into disrepair, with roof tiles lost, and the roof at the west end falling in. The church was full of sand and was used by fishermen who hung their nets on the altar rail. In 1884 the church was re-roofed for £80 by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, who had raised an appeal for funds.

St Tanwg's Church, Llandanwg, also known as "the church in the sand", is an early medieval church dedicated to St Tanwg in the village of Llandanwg, Gwynedd, Wales. The church is a Grade I listed building. LocationThe church is located in sand dunes, about 20m from the high water mark of St George's Channel, at the southern end of the village of Llandanwg. The church is also known as "the church in the sand". To the south west of the church is the mouth of the River Artro. HistoryThe current building is medieval, with the western end possibly dating back to the 13th century. However, the presence of 6th century inscribed stones, and the dedication to St Tanwg, suggest much earlier use of the site as a church, possibly dating to around 453 AD as part of St Patrick's work to establish links between Ireland and Britain. St Tanwg's was extended to the east, including a tall east window and the addition of a rood screen, in the 15th century. The church was restored in the 17th century when windows were rebuilt and changed. This was also probably when a choir loft was removed and floor beams moved to the back of the church. The initials REP and date 1685, which are cut into a cross incised stone on the west gable, may date this period of alteration. The first recorded incumbent for the parish was Rector Thomas Humphrey in 1662. The floor of the church was flagged in 1786 and, three years later, some medieval paintings were lost during replastering and repainting of the walls. St Tanwg's church had been the parish church for the parish of Llandanwg, which included the small town of Harlech, for hundreds of years but between 1839 and 1841 a new parish church (also dedicated to St Tanwg) was built in Harlech. The old church was abandoned, and the 15th century octagonal font, bell and other furnishings, removed to the new building. The church soon fell into disrepair, with roof tiles lost, and the roof at the west end falling in. The church was full of sand and was used by fishermen who hung their nets on the altar rail. In 1884 the church was re-roofed for £80 by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, who had raised an appeal for funds.