2. Eglwys Crist y Brenin - Church of Christ the King, Malltraeth

Introduction

Number two on the trail is the tiny whitewashed church of Eglwys Crist y Brenin, hidden away just off the main road through the village of Malltraeth.

To find it involves experiencing one of Anglesey's most spectacular views down the length of the Malltraeth Sands.
Taking the time to come inside it is to experience one of Anglesey's warmest and most homely of churches.
A modest treasure.

A Visit

Park your car in the small car park just off the road and take a moment to enjoy the views down the Malltraeth sands, truly stunning. To your right is a small lane that leads few yards to the church itself.
At first site it doesn't look too exciting, it's plain whitewash and squat, oddly sphinx-like shape betray its history as a mission hall. Stepping through its heavy wooden door though brings you into room that is both beautiful in its simplicity, and endearing in its human warmth.

The unadorned plain white walls and plain frosted glass windows serve only to accentuate the church's small touches of decoration.
Immediately striking is the cross above the altar. The African features of the black Christ look entirely at home in this setting. The neat rows of seating face an altar elegant in its simplicity.

The real 'story' of this church though is in its details, all of which point to a church that is at the heart of its community and is truly valued by its users. Stacks of well used childrens bibles vie for shelf space with hymn books and collection plates, heating is provided by exactly the sort of portable heaters that we use at home and music is provided by an organ and just the sort of cassette player we use. This is a 'people place'. Everything from its spotless carpet to its freshly ironed alter cloth speaks of a place that both loved and cared for.

If further evidence were needed of this, the realisation that the kneeler at the altar rail has been meticulously hand-knotted will do it.

Crist y Brenin doesn't have the grand statuary, marble and polished brasses of some of our better known churches. What it does have is a moving warmth, humility and a quiet, affecting atmosphere all of its own that does huge credit to its parishioners.