Our sacred places tell the story of hundreds of years of belief. Many are right at the heart of things, like Bangor Cathedral – centre of worship for almost fifteen centuries. And Saint Asaph Cathedral, which takes centre stage each September for the North Wales International Music Festival.
Some are a little more difficult to find, like Llanrychwyn Old Church in the hills above Trefriw – thought to be the oldest church in Wales. And Saint Tudno's Church on Llandudno's Great Orme, where worshippers brave the wild weather for open air services.
It's not just about the buildings. You'll hear individual stories, too. Of people like Bishop William Morgan – who first translated the Bible ‘Y Beibl' into Welsh. And Mary Jones of Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, who walked 25 miles to buy a copy of the bible. Barefoot.
You don't have to be barefoot to enjoy a church to church walk: there are 9 sacred places to discover on Anglesey's Celtic Circle trail, and 16 on Wrexham's Open Church Network. Afterwards you can dip your toe in Saint Winefride's Well, Holywell – Britain's only active shrine. Make a pilgrimage to Bardsey Island, just off the LLYN Peninsula (no need to walk on water - there's a boat), or head to Church Island on the Menai Straits for the best view of both bridges. And how about a private chapel? Inside Rhug Chapel near Corwen, every surface has been either carved or painted or both.
Visit The Parish Church of Saint Giles – the last resting place of Elihu Yale. Or Saint Mary and All Saints Church, Conwy – built on the site of a Cistercian Abbey Church. You can still visit a Cictercian abbey today – we've two to choose from: 12th century Basingwerk Abbey; and 13th century Valle Crucis.
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This attraction is Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service (VAQAS) approved.
The Cathedral at Bangor was founded in around 525 AD – more than 70 years before Canterbury Cathedral, when Deiniol, a Celtic missionary built a fenced enclosure known as a bangor (hence the name), with a church inside.
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Basingwerk Abbey, Holywell, Flintshire was a Cistercian Abbey, originally founded as a house of the order of Savigny in the 12th century. During the 13th century, King Edward I was based here while he built Flint Castle.
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This attraction is Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service (VAQAS) approved.
Winefride was the daughter of a 7th century Welsh nobleman. Her suitor, Caradog, cut her head off when she spurned his advances, and, so the story goes, a well erupted at the spot where her disembodied head fell.
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