Mae Eglwys Sant Eleth wedi ei lleoli ar arfordir gogleddol Ynys Môn yn nhref wledig Amlwch, tua 22 milltir i’r gogledd-orllewin o bont Menai, a 22 milltir i’r gogledd-ddwyrain o Gaergybi. Mae’r eglwys yng nghanol y dref ar ochr ddwyreiniol Stryd y Frenhines.
Mae’n debyg bod yr eglwys gyntaf yn yr ardal hon wedi cael ei sefydlu yn y 6ed ganrif gan Elaeth, neu Eleth: brenin o ogledd Prydain a ddiorseddwyd, ac a ffodd i Ynys Môn ac ymgartrefu ym Mynachdy Seiriol ym Mhenmon.
Adeiladwyd yr eglwys bresennol yn y 18fed ganrif yn yr arddull Neo-glasurol, gan ddisodli eglwys gynharach. Cafodd ei hail-fodelu yn y 19eg ganrif, gydag orielau’n cael eu tynnu a’r arcedau a bwa’r gangell yn cael eu hychwanegu. Datblygwyd yr adeilad ymhellach ym 1999 i ychwanegu mannau newydd yn y pen gorllewinol, ac oriel i ddal Organ Bevington.
Mae’r adeiladwaith yn rwbel garw gydag addurniad nadd ag offer. Mae yma do llechi bas a thŵr gorllewinol. Y tŵr yw canolbwynt wal orllewinol corff yr eglwys, gyda chloc a siambr glychau o’r 19eg ganrif. Cafodd un o’r clychau ei bwrw yn 1687 tra bod dyddiad bwrw’r llall yn anhysbys. Mae’r tu mewn wedi ei rannu ag arcedau tri bae a cholofnau cerrig nadd, gyda’r noddfa mewn marmor a ffenestr ddwyreiniol gwydr lliw o’r 1860au.
Mae’r eglwys bresennol yn adlewyrchu ffyniant cynyddol Amlwch yn y 18fed ganrif, o ganlyniad i ddatblygiad y diwydiant copr, gyda gwaith copr Parys ym 1775, ac yna gwaith copr Mona ym 1786, a Phorth Amlwch yn datblygu i’r gogledd. Yna tyfodd y dref o gwmpas yr hen eglwys ganoloesol, gan ddod yn chweched tref fwyaf Cymru erbyn 1801. Parhaodd ffyniant y diwydiant copr tan 1840, cyn dirywio. Mae ei waddol wedi dod yn destun chwilfrydedd i dwristiaid.
St Eleth's Church is located on the north coast of Anglesey in the rural town of Amlwch, around 22 miles north-west of Menai bridge, and 22 miles north-east of Holyhead. The church is in the centre of town on the east side of Queen’s Street.
The first church in this area was supposedly established in the 6th century by Elaeth, or Eleth: a ruler from northern Britain who was ousted from power, and then fled to Anglesey to settle in the Monastery of St Seiriol in Penmon.
The current church was built in 18th century in the Neo-classical style, and it replaced an earlier church. It was remodelled in the 19th century, with galleries removed and arcades and chancel arch added. This was further developed in 1999 to add new spaces at the west end, and a gallery to hold the Bevington Organ.
The construction is a course-grade rubble with tooled ashlar dressings. It has a shallow-pitched slate roof and a west tower. The tower is the centrepiece of the west end wall of the nave, with a clock and bell chamber from the 19th century. Of the two bells, one was cast in 1687 while the other is unknown. The interior is divided by three-bay arcades and bath-stone columns, with the sanctuary in marble and a stained-glass east window from the 1860s.
The present church reflects the rising prosperity of Amlwch in the 18th century, this was the result of the developing copper industry, with the Parys mine in 1775, then the Mona mine in 1786, and Amlwch Port developing just to the north. The town then grew around the old medieval church, becoming the sixth-largest town in Wales by 1801. The prosperity of the copper industry lasted until 1840, before diminishing. Its remaining legacy has become a curiosity for tourists.