St Caian's Church

The date of construction of the first Christian building on this site is unknown. The church is dedicated to St Caian, a Christian from the 5th or 6th century, about whom little is known. One manuscript says that his father was St Caw, a king in northern Britain who lost his lands and sought safety in Anglesey, where the ruler Maelgwn Gwynedd gave him land in the north-east of the island, the district known as Twrcelyn. Other manuscripts say that he was active in the 5th century and was a son or grandson of Brychan, a king from south Wales. Caian gives his name to the hamlet of Tregaian in which the church is situated: the Welsh word ' (shortened here to tre) means "settlement", and…

The church is built from rubble masonry. The roof, which is made from slate, has a stone bellcote at the west end. Entrance is through the doorway on the south side, from the late 15th century; it has decorated surrounds and a square frame. There is no structural division between the nave (where the congregation sit) and the chancel (where the altar is located) apart from a single step up into the chancel. The east window, from the late 14th century, is set in a pointed arch with decorative edging. It has stained glass from 1916 depicting Christ crowning a knight with the words "Well done thou good and faithful servant / Take unto you the whole armour of God." There are two pairs of…