St Pabo’s Church, Llanbabo

Llanbabo LL66 0BW

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St Pabo’s Church, Llanbabo

A glimpse of the early king St Pabo and the shape of his Celtic church enclosure are just enough to divert pilgrims in the heart of Anglesey

Highlights

  • Possible burial place of St Pabo
  • Celtic church site

St Pabo’s face looms out from the stone doorway at visitors to his church. Legend tells that this effigy has been set up to gaze at the site of his grave, which must lie just outside the church door, behind you as you stand on the path. Two younger companions at his side are said to be his son and daughter, also facing their graves.

The 12th-century church has a much clearer carving of the saint inside, a 14th-century stone effigy depicting him in royal dress. This might be a memorial slab from his actual grave. The church building was locked on my visit, and there was no information about a keyholder. The monument is clearly depicted on the back of The Way and the Light.

St Pabo is an obscure royal saint but worthy of mention since his body might still lie in its original grave here. Little is known about this local king, but he is said to be the grandfather of St Asaph and St Deiniol. He founded a church on this site around 460, having perhaps abdicated to devote his final years to prayer. The enclosure around the church is circular, a sure sign of early Celtic origins.

Directions

St Pabo’s Church

Llanbabo LL66 0BW (area postcode)

W3W: arise.hang.insiders

GPS: 53.3529N, 4.4384W

Llanbabo is a tiny settlement just north of Llyn Alaw, the large reservoir in the north of Anglesey. You can reach it by driving 2.5 miles south-west from Rhosgoch. The church is beside the road.

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Key facts

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Britain’s Pilgrim Places

This listing is an extract from Britain’s Pilgrim Places, written by Nick Mayhew-Smith and Guy Hayward and featuring hundreds of similar spiritually charged sites and landscapes from across Britain.

Proceeds from sale of the book directly support the British Pilgrimage Trust, a non-profit UK charity. Thank you.

Location

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Tom Jones

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St Pabo’s Church, Llanbabo

Llanbabo LL66 0BW

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