AngleseyLLANFECHELLStMechell(ericjonesCC-BY-SA2.)1 EricJones

St Mechell

A whitewashed village church with links to a 6th century saint and the story of a running hare.

Llanfechell, Anglesey

Opening times

Easter to end September 10am to 4pm daily; other times by arrangement with Mary Hughes (07788 842009).

Address

Llanfechell
Anglesey
LL68 0RE

Nestled in the middle of a small, peaceful village, the whitewashed church of St Mechell is dedicated to a 6th century missionary who may also be identified as Malo. This Welsh saint was baptised by St Brendan and went on to establish churches in Brittany and found the city of Saint-Malo. He is thought to have been buried back on Anglesey, near his church.

In a 17th century manuscript, a Welsh poem tells how, in thanksgiving for a miraculous healing, Mechell was offered a gift of land in north Anglesey. The boundaries were created by a hare, released to run free, and that is where the saint founded a monastery, said to have become a famous centre of learning by the 8th century. Although modernised, the present church building (listed Grade II*) dates in part from the 12th century, with additions in the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries. Tradition says that the distinctive dome on the tower was built to muffle the ringing of the bell because the noise was souring the beer in the village brewery (where the Chapel House now stands).

The historic fabric and furnishings include a 13th century font, a window of retrieved medieval glass, and a memorial to William Bulkeley of Brynddu, an 18th century squire whose lively diaries of local life have been described as ‘perfect treasure houses of allusion and incident’. More recent members of the Brynddu family are commemorated in other stained glass windows.

In either wall of the chancel are what may well be ‘leper lights’. These small windows (originally unglazed) allowed lepers to take part in services without mixing with the congregation. The porch (dating back to medieval times) holds an ancient and ornate but otherwise unidentified stone slab, similar to the type of lids used for the coffins of monastic burials. Might this have been for the burial of Mechell himself?

A stroll around the well kept churchyard will reveal some interesting memorials including a number of war graves (more details in the illustrated guidebook available in Welsh and English) and the remains of the old village cross. Lucky visitors may even glimpse red squirrels helping themselves from the feeder box installed on one of the yew trees!

  • Wildlife haven

  • Spectacular stained glass

  • Social heritage stories

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Captivating architecture

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Parking within 250m

  • On street parking at church

  • Level access to the main areas

  • Dog friendly

  • Café within 500m

  • Bus stop within 100m

  • Church in Wales

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Patrick

Llanbadrig, Anglesey

Situated on a windswept headland, St Patrick's is a place of deep peace and prayer.

St Fflewin

Llanfflewin, Anglesey

A small church with 7th century roots, tucked away in a maze of winding lanes, farm tracks and footpaths.

St Pabo

Llanbabo, Anglesey

An almost unique medieval church which has enjoyed relatively little restoration such that it remains largely medieval dating from the 12th century and mentioned in the Norwich Taxation of 1254.