Llanfihangel y Traethau Church
There are two churches still open at Talsarnau – Llandecwyn church which is not far from LlynTecwyn Uchaf, and Llanfihangel church which is called Llanfihangel y Traethau (St Michael's by the Beaches) as it is by the sea.
There is an ancient grave stone near the porch that dates back to the twelfth century which proves that this church pre-dates the castle in Harlech.
Few services are held at Llandecwyn as the road is steep and narrow. The occasional funeral, an annual thanksgiving service and a few services are held during August.
The two churches are open every day as places to meditate or pray for anyone needing peace and quiet and both churches belong to small pilgrim places – where people have used these sites for eight centuries or more.
A bilingual service is held at Llanfihangel each Sunday at 11.30 a.m. - with morning prayers or holy communion on alternate Sundays. There is no service on the fifth Sunday each month, which happens about three times a year when another church in Bro Ardudwy can be attended.
This church was built as a chapel for the parish of Llandecwyn at the end of the eleventh century and was used as an every day school, but the school was closed when they built Tyddyn Eglwys - the rectory in 1832 and Llanfihangel then became the parish church.
The church is consecrated to Saint Mihangel (like many others in Wales) It got its name because the two rivers, the Glaslyn and the Dwyryd enter the sea nearby - hence it was called Llanfihangel y Traethau (St Michaels by the Beaches). There are many graves of seamen and sea captains here, and well known people like Mari'r Fantell Wen and authors like Gwyneth Vaughan and Richard Hughes have been buried in the church yard.