St Bodfan's Church, Churches and Chapels Llanaber, Gwynedd - Wales where to go, what to see and where to stay in Wales

Bodfan's Church is the finest 13th-century church in Gwynedd. It was built by Hywel ap Gruffudd ap Cynan, a great grandson of Owain Gwynedd who became overlord of this part of Meirionnydd in 1202 but was dead by 1216.The church houses the Llanaber stones dating from the late 5th-early 6th century AD. The present church dates from the early 13th century. One of its great benefactors was Hywel ap Meredydd ap Cynan, the Lord of Ardudwy, the commot which has given its name to the Rural Deanery of Ardudwy in which the parish of Llanaber is situated. This Hywel was a near relative of Llewelyn the Great. The plan of the church consists of a Nave, with north and south aisles, and a long and narrow chancel. Entering the church by the south Porch, rebuilt in the nineteenth century, the visitor notices the very fine south doorway, reputed to be one of the finest examples of Early English architecture in the country.