is about two miles east of Amlwch, near the coast: Mr. Bingley’s account
of which, and the superstitious ceremonies still attaching to it, is both
curious and entertaining:
“The Church is by no means an inelegant structure; and adjoining to
it is a small chapel of very ancient foundation, that measures in its
interior twelve feet by fifteen, called Myfyr, _the confessional_. A
curious closet of wood, of an hexagonal form, called _St. Elian’s
closet_, is yet left in the east wall; and is supposed to have served
both the office of communion table, and as a chest to contain the
vestments and other utensils belonging to the chapel. There is a
hole in the wall of the chapel, through which the priests are
supposed to have received confessions: the people believe this hole
to have been used in returning oracular answers to persons who made
enquiries of the saint respecting future events. Near the door is
placed Cyff Elian, _Elian’s chest_, or poor-box. People out of
health, even to this day, send their offering to the saint, which
they put through a hole into the box. A silver groat, though not a
very common coin, is said to be a present peculiarly acceptable, and
has been known to procure his intercession, when all other kinds of
coin have failed! The sum thus deposited, which in the course of a
year frequently amounts to several pounds, the church-wardens
annually divide among the poor of the parish.
“The wakes of Llanelian were formerly held on the three first Friday
evenings in August; but they are now confined to only one of those
days. Young persons from all parts of the adjacent country, and even
from distant counties, assemble here; most of whom have along with
them some offering for the saint, to ensure their future prosperity,
palliate their offences, and secure blessings on their families,
their cattle, and corn.
“The misguided devotees assemble about the chapel, and having
deposited their offerings, many of them proceed to search into their
future destiny in a very singular manner, by means of the wooden
closet. Persons of both sexes, of all ages and sizes, enter the
small door-way, and if they can succeed in turning themselves round
within the narrow limits of the place, (which measures only betwixt
three and four feet in height, about four feet across the back, and
eighteen inches in width) they believe that they shall be fortunate
till at least the ensuing wake; but if they do not succeed in this
difficult undertaking, they esteem it an omen of ill-fortune, or of
their death within the year. I have been told, that it is curious
enough to see a stout lusty fellow, weighing perhaps sixteen or
eighteen stone, striving to creep into these narrow confines, with as
much confidence of success as a stripling a yard high; and when he
fails in the attempt, to see him fuming and fretting, because his
body, which contains in solid bulk more than the place could hold,
were it crammed into all corners, cannot be got in. But when we
consider, that superstition and enthusiasm have generally little to
do with reason, we must not wonder at this addition to the heap of
incongruities that all ages have afforded us.
“Llanelian was formerly a sanctuary, or place of refuge for
criminals. In digging a grave in the churchyard, about sixteen years
ago, a deep trench was discovered, which extended about twenty yards
in a transverse direction across. It was found to contain a great
quantity of human bones; and is supposed to have been the place of
interment of a number of sailors, who perished in a storm that drove
them upon this coast.”