Church
of Saint Gwyndaf (Llanwnda)
Image: The
Church of Saint Gwyndaf | © 2008
Eric Jones
It is said that the Shrine of Saint Gwyndaf (or Gwnda) was the first sacred stopping-place
for pilgrims on the road from Caernarfon to Bardsey
Island. The first stone church was built some time
in the 13th century - the present Norman style Parish
Church of Llanwnda was erected in 1847/8 over its cruciform
foundations after the designs of George Alexander of
London.
[The father of Saint Gwyndaf was Emyr Llydaw, one of
Britanny’s royal family, who established a small monastery
on Bardsey in the 5th century in co-operation with
Einion, also known as Engan,* who was great grandson
of Cunedda Wledig, King of Gwynedd (c.386–c. 460) who
had come from the Old North, now in Scotland). But
many maintain that Saint Cadfan was the first to consecrate
a cloister on the island.]
* The name Engan appears
in a number of place-names in Lleyn.
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