Llangernyw Yew - The Oldest Tree in Wales & The Angelystor Spirit
You can find the oldest tree in Wales in the churchyard of St. Dygain's Church in Llangernyw village, Conwy, North Wales. This ancient yew is said to be around 3,000 - 5,000 years old
Interesting Facts
- 3,000 - 5,000 years old - though very hard to date
- It also holds the title of the 'oldest living thing' in Wales!
- It is a ancient yew (Latin - Taxus baccata)
- The diameter of the tree at the ground level is a massive 10.75 m
- The tree is male
- The church at Llangernyw is centuries old, but the site has been sacred thousands of years before it was built
- The tree may have begun ints growth sometime in the prehistoric Bronze Age
- There are also two standing stones in the churchyard, which would have been raised by pagans
The Angelystor in Local Folklore
Locals say the church of Llangernyw is inhabited by an ancient spirit known as Angelystor. Each year on Halloween and 31 July the spirit is said to appear in the church and solemnly announces, in Welsh, the names of those parish members who will die within the year.
One local man, the skeptical Siôn Ap Rhobert, challenged the existence of the spirit one Halloween night. On entering the church, he heard his own name called out, "Hold, hold! I am not ready yet!" he contested. But, it was too late, he died within the year.
Source: Wikipedia by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llangernyw_Yew#/media/File:The_Llangernyw_yew.jpg