St Mary's Church, Bodewryd

St Mary's Church in Bodewryd is a small medieval church in a hamlet on Anglesey, in north Wales, within the community of Llanfechell. It is easy to overlook, yet it combines centuries of local history with one of the more unusual stories among Welsh parish churches.

How old is St Mary's Church in Bodewryd?

Nobody knows exactly when the church was built. Records show that a church already stood on this site in 1254, so the place of worship is at least that old. The earliest feature that can be given a date is a doorway in a 15th-century style, made around 1500. That doorway is a good reminder that the building has been altered and repaired many times over the centuries, as is typical for small rural churches.

What happened in 1867?

In 1867 the church was restored after it was struck by lightning. Rebuilding after such damage gave the parish a chance to renew the interior and the windows. The restoration was paid for with the help of a benefactor, Lord Stanley of Alderley, and this is where the story becomes remarkable.

Why does a Welsh church have Islamic-style windows?

The benefactor, Lord Stanley of Alderley, was a convert to Islam. He is identified as Henry Edward John Stanley, the third Baron Stanley of Alderley (1827-1903). As a condition of his support, the restored church was to include stained glass with Islamic-influenced patterns. As a result, the windows of this small Anglican church differ from the ones you would expect in a country chapel. For visitors interested in religious history, architecture or the cultural connections of Victorian Britain, these windows are the main reason to stop here.

Is the church still in use?

Yes. St Mary's belongs to the Church in Wales and is one of five churches in a combined parish, so it remains part of local religious life rather than serving only as a monument. It is a Grade II listed building, designated on 12 May 1970, which recognises its architectural and historical value.

Practical tips for visitors

• The church stands in the hamlet of Bodewryd in the north-west of Anglesey, in the Llanfechell area. The setting is rural and quiet, so a car is the most practical way to arrive.
• Because services are shared between several churches in the parish, it is worth checking in advance whether the building is open on the day you plan to visit.
• Look closely at the windows and the doorway: they are the two features that best show the building's history, the one from around 1500 and the other from the 1867 restoration.
• Combine the visit with other places in the Llanfechell area for a short trip around the northern coast of the island.

Frequently asked questions

When was St Mary's Church in Bodewryd built? The construction date is unknown. A church is recorded here in 1254, and the earliest dateable feature is a doorway from about 1500.

Why was the church restored in 1867? It had been struck by lightning and needed repair.

What is special about its windows? They contain stained glass with Islamic-influenced patterns, which was a requirement of the benefactor, Lord Stanley of Alderley, who had converted to Islam.

Is it a listed building? Yes, it is Grade II listed, since 12 May 1970.

Is it still used for worship? Yes, it is used by the Church in Wales as one of five churches in a combined parish.