St Beuno Church, Pistyll Wales
St Beuno’s church Pistyll Llyn
We stumbled across this church as we drove by and saw the sign. Turning round we arrived down a lane at this tiny church. Amazingly it was founded by Beuno himself and he retreated here to pray when the monastery college at Clynnog Fawr was too busy. I was so excited.
The church is set within an oval llan by a stream. There is a pool adjacent which looks like a baptistry (later a fishpond) and similar to ones I’ve seen in Cornwall. The stream flows from the pond, now managed by a sluice and it suddenly forms a deep gorge on one side of the churchyard, similar to St Beuno’s church at Culbone on Exmoor.
The location looks right out to sea, across to Anglesey and over surrounding mountains. It is a classic ‘edge of the world’ location favoured by the Celtic Christians.
Walking through the churchyard and round the side to the old wooden door, we enter. Inside, the church it feels ancient, homely and welcoming. There is straw and herbs strewn on the floor, lots of candles and greenery. The font is ancient and verified as Celtic. Together it creates a really pretty and welcoming atmosphere. I found it easy to worship and so peaceful. This place is loved.
In this holy place
Lay your burdens down
Look to the cross of Jesus
And see his shining love
Look to the cross and beyond
Look to the resurrection
Look to the power of Pentecost and live in it
Don’t linger too long at the cross
Allow redemption to do its work
Then move on into his abiding power and grace
To go forth and tell
Sing and dance and create with joy
Lift up your voice and sing
Declare the goodness of God’s rescuing love
Go with the flow of God’s Spirit’s breath
I lie prostrate at the altar before God.
In a vision I see the head of an incredibly beautiful horse elaborately decorated. Its mane is intricately plaited and shining. A man in full plated armour is on him, holding high a red and white pennant.
He rides off a short way, stops, turns and says, ‘All who are for the King of Kings fall in’.
I watch as a fairly small gathering of people come forward. They are ragged, weary, bowed down, a rag-tag bunch. I am confused. They certainly don’t look like an army!
He leads them down to a river ford on the mountainside. They wash in fresh mountain water and emerge refreshed and ready.
Now he leads them on a path uphill to a barn-like building. Inside they will all receive new kit. I hear him saying,
‘Equipping for the new season’
Everyone appears dressed and equipped but each person has their own unique clothes, armour, weapons, and mantles. No two outfits are the same. They fall in and I sense are prepared and ready. I know they are the ones who have been faithful during the last season of tearing, wilderness and warfare. The vision ends.
This is a very special church and place to pray. It is one of my all time favourite places.
In times gone by it was also a stopping place for pilgrims on their way to Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli). Pilgrims were going there in Celtic times and it was known as a very holy place. By the 12th century though it became a famous place for pilgrimage. Pilgrims would walk there and stop here at this church for shelter and sustenance. The church was used for worship and pilgrims rested at the adjacent hospice on the Cefnedd hill behind the church. Old fruit vines and hops still grow nearby which would have provided sustenance. Lepers also came to the church desperate for healing. They were housed in a separate hospice set up at Cae Hosbis Pennlla. Most pilgrims walked from Beuno's main collegiate church at Clynnog Fawr before heading on to Bardsey.
The church itself has a rare cornerstone of non local stone. It would have been dragged for miles until permission was granted to build a house of prayer and worship. The Christians then remained with the stone, praying and fasting for 40 days before building work began. What devotion and dedictation! Even before a stone was laid, the ground was consecrated and set apart for God. No wonder there is such a joyous atmosphere here.