Hanes
Mae enw’r Eglwys yn tarddu o St Tecwynm a gredir iddo gyrraedd yma yng Nghymru (ynghyd â St Twrog, sant noddedig eglwys gyfagos Maentwrog yn Plwyf Bro Moelwyn) o Lydaw tua 516 O.C. yng ngosgordd St Cadfan.
Fe ail-adeiladwyd yr Eglwys bron yn yr union safle â’r eglwyss wreiddiol yn 1879, pan fu i bron pob gwrthrych hynafiaethol gael ei ddifrodi, ac eithrio’r basn bach a’r gilfach y safai ynddi i’r Dde o’r allor.
Wrth ail-adeiladu’r Eglwys yn 1879, fe ddarganfuwyd carreg tus 12 troedfedd o ran Ddwyreiniol yr Eglwys tu allan i ganllawiu’r allor, a 3 droedfedd oddi ar y llawr. Mae’r garreg yn 14 modfedd o hyd gyda lled o 3 modfedd ar un ochr yn lleihau i 2 1/2 ar yr ochr arall, ac yn 2 fodfedd o drwch. Ar ochr llyfn y garreg mae yna arysgrif a ddehonglwyd gan y diweddar Sir Edward Anwyl:
SCTI TETQUINI PR(ESBTER) I H(O) RI DEI CLARIS (IMI)
Q(UE) DEI S(E)ROI, HELI DIAC(N) I ME FECIT –I–
ABCDEF —I—
syn golygu:
(CROES) ST TECWYN, HENURIAD (=OFFEIRIAD) I ANRHYDEDDU DUW
AC ARDDERCHOCAF WAS DUW, HELI DIACON A’M GWNAETH. ABCDEF
DEACON MADE ME. ABCDEF.
Credir mae’r dyddiad oedd yr unfed ganrif ar ddeg. Saif y garreg yn ddiogel ym mur canoloesol yr Eglwys. Nodi’r fod y llythrennau yn mân-llythrennog ac heb eu cerfio â chyn, ond wedi eu dynodi gan resi parhaol o ddotiau, a wnaethpwyd mae’n debyg â morthwyl a hoelen. Roedd ho’n draddodiadol yn Iwerddon, ac o bosib yma yng Nghymru, i gerfio llythrennau’r wyddor Rhufeinig ar gerrig beddau athrawon a chenhadwyr.
Mae’r wybodaeth uchod wedi ei gyfaddasu o nodiadai’r Parchedig G. Chambres, Mor Edrin, Talsarnau ac o erthygl a gynhwysir yng Nghomisiwn Brenhinol ar ‘Golgolofnau Hynafol yng Nghymru’. (Arch. Cambs. 1905 and ib. vi 121)
History
The name of the church originates from St Tecwyn who is believed to have arrived here in Wales (along with St Twrog, Saint of the adjoining Maentwrog church in the parish of Bro Moelwyn) from Brittany around 516 A.D. around the time of St Cadfan.
The church was re-built almost at the very site of the original church in 1879, when almost all ancient objects were damaged, except for the small basin to the right of the altar.
During the re-construction of the church in 1879, a 12-foot stone from the eastern part of the church was discovered outside. The stone is 14 inches long with a width of 3 inches on one side diminishing to 2 1/2 on the other side, and 2 inches thick. On the smooth side of the stone is an inscription interpreted by the late Sir Edward Anwyl:
SCTI TETQUINI PR(ESBTER) I H(O) RI DEI CLARIS (IMI)
Q(UE) DEI S(E)ROI, HELI DIAC(N) I ME FECIT --I--
ABCDEF ---I---
Which translates:
(CROSS) ST TECWYN, HENURIAD (=PRIEST) TO HONOUR GOD
SERVANT OF GOD, HELI DEACON MADE ME. ABCDEF
. ABCDEF.
The date is thought to be the eleventh century. The stone is situated safely in the medieval wall of the church. Note that the letters are minor-literate and not pre-carved, but denoted by permanent rows, probably made with a hammer and nail. It was traditional in Ireland, and possibly here in Wales, to carve out Roman alphabet letters on teachers and missionaries gravestones.
The above information has been adapted from the notes of Reverend G. Chambres, Mor Edrin, Talsarnau and from an article contained in the Royal Commission on ' Ancient columnists in Wales '. (Arch. Cambs. 1905 and ib. vi 121)