St Mihangel's Church

St Mihangel’s Church stands in the village of Llanfihangel yn Nhowyn on the Isle of Anglesey in north Wales. It began as a small medieval church and was rebuilt in the 19th century by Henry Kennedy, architect of the Bangor diocese. In 1988 the west end was extended using stones from the dismantled church of St Enghenedl’s, which now faces the opposite direction. The building is Grade II listed for its special interest and is a clear example of mid-19th-century church design. The churchyard is enclosed by a wall and a gate along the roadside. The church is worth visiting for its historic fabric and its links with RAF Valley. The 1862 rebuilding reused parts of the earlier structure, including the east end. The extension now serves as the chapel for the nearby Royal Air Force base, which has operated since 1998. Inside, stained-glass windows commemorate the work of RAF Search and Rescue, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Mountain Rescue. Two windows were designed by Karen Newby, whose husband once commanded RAF Valley. Inside, the nave has three bays with exposed roof timbers and a step marking the sanctuary. A 17th-century gravestone lies in the floor before the rail. The east window is a pointed arch with trefoil tracery, and the south wall has a blocked window. The extension holds a vestry annexe and an arcade of three round arches dividing the two parts. Clear leaded glass fills most windows, while others contain stained panels added in 2001, 2010 and 2012.