Deanery of Tindaethwy & Menai
St Catherine, Llanfaes
Map Reference
Nearest Town
Beaumaris
Items of Interest
Llanfaes is the former site of a Franciscan Priory founded by Llewelyn ap Iorwerth around 1240 to house the tomb of his late wife Joan, daughter of King John of England. The Priory supported Owain Glyndwr in his rebellion in 1401 and consequently suffered greatly at the hands of King Henry IV. The priory was suppressed by Henry VIII around 1539 and its church was used as a barn until the mid-19th century when it was finally demolished. A drawing by Moses Griffith shows the fine triple lancet east window of the old Priory church. The carved stone lid of Joan's coffin is now preserved in St. Mary's Church, Beaumaris.
The present Parish church, on the site of the former mediaeval parish church established by Llewelyn, dates from the 19th century. The tower was originally added to the old church in 1811, and in 1845 the nave and chancel were rebuilt and a spire added. This was followed in 1885 by the addition of the Bulkeley chapel on the north. Finally a south aisle was added in 1890.
The only medieval survivals in the present Parish church are a stone incised with a Latin cross, fixed on the exterior east gable, and a human head rudely carved in a block of red sandstone, built into the exterior wall of the south aisle and clearly native Welsh work.