St Nidan's Church, Llanidan

St Nidan’s Church stands near Brynsiencyn on Anglesey’s southern edge, a 19th-century Anglican parish church built between 1839 and 1843. It replaced an older medieval church that needed repairs and stood too far from the growing village. Items from the old church, including a 13th-century font and two bells from the 14th and 15th centuries, were moved here. The west tower, often called ‘top heavy’, has a clock and battlements added in 1933. The churchyard walls enclose the site beside the A4080 road, with Brynsiencyn a short walk to the south-west. The church is still used for worship by the Church in Wales and is one of five in a combined benefice. It is Grade II listed for its special interest, recognised as a distinctive example of early 19th-century Gothic revival work. The architect John Welch also designed another Anglesey church in 1841. The chancel was added in 1882, with a vestry and organ chamber later. A survey in 1937 recorded historic fittings moved from the old church, including a 13th-century font and two medieval bells. Inside, the church follows an Early English cross-shape with a west tower, nave, two transepts and a chancel. The nave has lancet windows, while the transepts and chancel feature larger grouped lancets. The chancel window, by Heaton, Butler and Bayne (1877), depicts ‘Faith, Hope and Charity’. A sandstone chest, said to hold relics of St Nidan, stands near the altar. The churchyard holds graves including that of Sir Ellis Ellis-Griffith, a former Anglesey MP, marked by a bust.