According to Graham Philips, author of the Marian Conspiracy, the Virgin Mary’s bones were kept in this church, but we’re unlikely to be able to verify his supposition because ...

[More:]

a) the lych gate is not only locked, but double locked with steel bars at both entrance and exit and b) the church itself is built several feet above street level so attempting to climb over the wall would look very suspicious and probably end up with us being arrested!

To say I’m bitterly disappointed is an understatement! Lllanerchymedd itself is as far removed from its meaning, (church in a clearing where mead is made) as you can get. It’s full of grey, box like council houses and threatening youths in baseball caps and hoods. The church itself stands next door to a chip shop and said youths are swigging from cans and revving the engines of beat up monstrosities one step from the breakers yard.

I’m just about to suggest that we move on and try and locate the well, which is our next port of call and where, according to Mr Phillips, VM’s bones were finally laid to rest, when Nearest and Dearest, who is famously more observant than me, (hence his skill with bird identification), points out that in spite of the prominent display of iron gates and padlocks, the gates themselves are not actually locked!

As this is my quest, I’m afraid N & D has to remain on guard duty and protect our bikes from the natives while I attempt to find any residue of the VM’s residence. Unfortunately the only sign I see of it is the name, Mair on the, yes you’ve guessed it, iron bars that are most definitely locked barring the entrance.

I remember from GP’s book that Lllanerchymedd was the centre of an import crossing of trade routes during pre-Roman and dark age times and later came under Viking attack which possibly resulted in the bones of the VM being relocated to the church of Llanbabo which is derived from King Pabo, a local ruler and the guardian of the VM’s bones. In view of this I console myself with the knowledge that the present St. Mary’s is relatively new, built during the nineteenth century, replacing a much older church and any traces of former occupants would be long gone.

Feeling a bit like Hyacinth Bucket, I order Richard, er Nearest & Dearest to lead on to the well!