24-07-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Anglesey church with 12th century features to extend burial ground
St Morhaiarn's near Gwalchmai only sees two to three burials a year, but the existing cemetery is almost full.
An application has been lodged with Anglesey County Council planners for the change of use of agricultural land to extend the existing cemetery.
It has been made by Cyngor Cymuned Trewalchmai Community Council.
The exact date of the church is unclear but according to the Coflein website, the chapel is circa 1500 with the chancel and nave being rebuilt in 1674.
However, a doorway arch appears to include stone features dating back over 800 years.
St Morhaiarn\'S Church, Gwalchmai (Ioacc Planning Document)
A well at the church was recorded on early maps including the 1888 Ordnance Survey Map, but was thought to have been filled in many years later with no trace remaining today.
The proposed extension will be south of the existing cemetery on the eastern area of the church, a site of approximately 638 square metres.
The Churchyard Extension (Ioacc Planning Documents)
The land is currently unused pasture and plans note that all existing boundary plants will be retained and a further hedgerow boundary created, as part of the development.
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Natural boundaries will be planted to the east and south boundaries and a new gate to the extension area will be installed that will 'provide a sufficient gap allowing hedgehogs to roam freely and forage for food and shelter without restriction,' plans say.
'This will also be of benefit to other small native species.'
One document notes that records had shown there may be otters, a protected species, in the vicinity of the site.
Proposed Cemetry Plan (Images Ioacc Planning Document)
A Groundwater Pollution Risk Assessment for the burial site was carried out.
It stated: 'A risk screening exercise was undertaken which indicated that as the rate of burial is low, it is considered that any discharge will have low concentrations of hazardous and non-hazardous substances.
'Additionally, as there are limited water features within the area and limited potential for groundwater within the underlying geology, the risk of the cemetery extension on the groundwater and surface water is low.'
As the 'anticipated rate of burial is low at 2-3 burials per year and therefore is considered any discharge will have low concentrations of hazardous and non-hazardous substances'.
It also states: 'There are no other springs, boreholes or water features within 250m of the site where the water is intended for human consumption or used in food production.
'The closest water course is over 30m from the proposed extension boundary (a stream located approximately 40m east).'
According to the Well Hopper blog website, which explores the ancient holy wells and healing wells of North Wales, the lost well was unlikely to have been a holy well, and was known locally as 'The Church Well'.
Little is also known of St Morhaiarn. The website suggests 'maybe he is a local saint or the name may be a corruption of something else. It has been suggested that it is a variation of Mordeyrn, the saint of Nantglyn church in Denbighshire'.
The Coflein website describes the features and history of the historic church as 'constructed of limestone rubble with grit dressings and modern slate roof'.
It adds: 'The chancel, which is structurally undivided from the nave, has two single light windows of circa 1674, into one of which has been carved the date and initials OH 1674.
'The nave features a blocked doorway of a similar date and although the North doorway is modern, it appears to incorporate the voussoirs [a stone feature] of a C12 arch.
'The North Chapel was added circa 1500 and is divided from the chancel by an arcade of two four-centred arches.
'There is an original window of two 'tre-foiled' lights in a square frame in the North wall. The roof to the chapel may also be original.'
