In the 6th century the area between the sea and the present Penrhyn Avenue was an island. The golf course was the estuary of the Afon Ganol and a marshy channel from the Afon ran into the sea by the Rhos Point.
It has been suggested that a small 'haven' may have existed against the hill on which the Llandrillo Parish Church now stands. There is a reference to ships "lying under the Llandrillo Church". Sometime in the middle of the 6th century St Trillo, whose family came from Brittany, landed on the foreshore of what is now Rhos on Sea. He established his 'cell' here and enclosed a plot of land so that today the area is known as the 'Llan' of 'Trillo' or 'Llandrillo-yn-Rhos'.
St Trillo's ministry spread inland from the shore. He may have been under the protection of Maelgwn Gwynedd and was one of the signatories to the grant made to St Kentigern at the endowment of the See of Bangor. St Trillo's cell may well have been made of wattle and daub with a thatched roof. It appears to have been built to enclose a spring of fresh water. This spring was accorded holy properties and was used for baptisms throughout the locality. Over the years a stone building replaced the former structure.
In the early days of Christianity in Britain, it was customary for the clerics to seek secluded places in which to dwell. Places for quiet contemplation, far enough away from established, sometimes hostile authority, but near to some form of human habitation. Maybe St Trillo found the foreshore a place where he could find shelter, water and food whilst ministering to the needs of the fisherfolk and peasant farmers who may have then inhabited the marshes and woodlands of Rhos. More...
your comments
patricia moskal
can you still get married at st trillo church?
Mon Jun 8 10:02:19 2009
Martin James from Bangor
Can you get married in the little chapel of St Trillo without being christened and have you any pictures of the chapel?
Web team: There's an old picture of the chapel here.
Thu Apr 12 10:10:04 2007
Rosemary Penyffordd
We visited St Trillo last summer with ma and pa from Llaingoch, and my husband and I sat in the peaceful place. Ma used to live up the road when she was a little girl and didn't know St Trillo was there, so after 70 years she enjoyed the very tranquil place. Better late than never!
Wed Jan 24 11:08:37 2007
Kath Davies
I took a group of students from Ysgol Y Gogarth to visit the chapel on Monday 11th June 2005. The students sat on the chairs and we were even able to take in, one student in wheelchair. The sun was glorious outside, but we were welcomed by the cool, shaded, quiet atmosphere of the chapel. I read the informative literature about St.Trillo and the students listened attentively. I was born on Penrhyn Avenue, Rhos-on-Sea, and this chapel has always been a favourite place of mine. I noticed the chairs are new (since the last time I visited) and the students commented on the intricate and very beautiful stained glass windows. We bought a postcard to remember the visit and took some photographs - for 'their evidence files.' The chapel may be the smallest in Wales but a quiet place to feel 'stillness and peace' for a few moments in a hectic week.
Mon Jul 11 12:55:49 2005
Debra Commins from Nuneaton
I visited the chapel on Saturday the 4th June. Friends " Tony and Andrea" had just had a registry office wedding and followed on to the Chapel to have a personal blessing, reading and remembrance service. Three candels were lit to remember persons missing and Heather gave a lovely reading. As a child the bride had spent many hours imagining that she would one day get married in the small but very beautiful chapel. She and her grandad, a local man, would walk the promanade and visit the chapel.
We all had a lovely time and the blessing was just a very personal touch that made the day so special. God Bless Andrea and Tony, may they have a long and happy marriage.
Love Debra xx
Wed Jun 8 14:45:03 2005
Andrew, Rhos-on-Sea
I visit the chapel on occasion, to reflect, for peace or to just "be" occasionally, and cannot help but notice the vandalism. Defaced altarstone, amongst other writings and breakages.
How does a person not understand and respect the meaning of a chapel?
This is something that causes me some concern when a society produces children, who in my opinion are born without malice, to commit acts of destruction in a chapel of all places.
Although we all know that such damage is superficial in the greater scheme of things, I cannot help but wonder what type of lives the children are living, what parental guidance they are receiving, what school they attend, and are they actually being taught anything of true value. Something, somewhere is terribly wrong.
Wed Jan 5 19:51:17 2005
Brian Pringle and Alan Nipper of Colwyn Bay Civic Society look at an historic site in Rhos on Sea.
