St Twrog's church, Llandwrog is a modern church in a Decorated Gothic style, built in 1856-60 on the site and in the footprint of, the medieval parish church. It was built as part of a model estate village (NPRN 401152) by the then Lord Newborough. The church comprises a nave, transepts, chancel, south chancel chapel and north vestry; the south-west tower has a tall broach spire. The church is notable for its complete high Victorian interior of exceptional quality and it retains several notable features (mostly monuments) from the previous church. It has a Victorian octagonal stone pulpit with traceried panels and tapered shaft, the south housing the lectern, and an old wooden pulpit incorporating a fine early 16th century panel, probably of Flemish origin, depicting the Crucifixion.
The medieval church included a “firmament” ceiling in the chancel, which was painted blue with stars and angels. This was destroyed. The current chancel contains tablets commemorating the Newborough family. Other fine wall memorials include Thomas Wynn of Bodvean dating to 1749; Ellen and Frances Glyn, co-heirs of Sir John Glyn of Glynllivon dating to 1711 and 1709.
The churchyard contains very old graves and stones, including Ellin Williams (on south side) and Elizabeth Meredith (on the east side) dating to 1700 and Jane Glynee Price dating to 1699. When the church was rebuilt, many of the older gravestones where moved to make way for the nave. These can be found against the churchyard wall. Under the sundial (a gift dating to 1746 inscribed 'R. G. Rector') is a small underground room which, according to the Church Register, was used as the death house. The bodies of seafarers washed up on the shore were brought here to await burial.
Sources include:
RCAHMW Caernarvonshire Inventory II (1960), 182-3 No. 1198
Cadw listed buildings database.
Rev R Lewis Edwards, 1997, St Twrog's Church, Llandwrog
Richard Suggett, Painted Temples: Wallpaintings and Rood-screens in Welsh Churches, 1200–1800, (RCAHMW 2021)
RCAHMW 2022