Historic Holyhead church to host heritage day after major restoration

A historic Anglesey church will host a heritage day next month following a major £2.3m refurbishment project.

St Cybi’s Church in Holyhead will welcome visitors on Saturday 11 April for a series of talks exploring the rich religious history of Holy Island.

The Grade I listed medieval church stands within the walls of a remarkably well-preserved fourth-century Roman coastal fort. Alongside the nearby 14th-century chapel, Eglwys y Bedd, the site has recently reopened after redevelopment funded through the UK Government’s Levelling Up programme.

As well as continuing as a place of worship, the restored building has been developed as a more accessible multi-use community hub.

Christopher Medley, event organiser, says, “Holy Island may be small, but it has an extraordinary religious history stretching back over a thousand years. With St Cybi’s Church now fully reopened after its refurbishment, this heritage day is a great opportunity for people to hear from leading experts and rediscover the stories, saints and traditions connected with this remarkable place.”

The event will feature a number of specialist speakers. Senior archaeologist Rob Evans from Heneb, the Trust for Welsh Archaeology, will give a talk on religious archaeology on Holy Island. Dr Martin Crampin, a leading authority on stained glass in Wales and author of several books, including Welsh Saints from Welsh Churches, will discuss stained glass on the island.

Professor Barry Lewis of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies will also speak about the saints of Holy Island and the cult of St Cybi.

Admission to the talks is free, and donations toward the church's upkeep will be welcome. The day will conclude with refreshments and a guided tour of the church.