GWYTHERIN, a parish, in the hundred of ISALED, county of DENBIGH, NORTH WALES, 6 miles (E. S. E.) from Llanrwst, comprising
the Upper and Lower divisions, and containing 463 inhabitants. Within this parish, which is situated in the mountainous,
district of the county, are the sources of the rivers Elwy, Aled, and Alwen, upon the first of which, about two miles
below its source, the village is pleasantly seated. The surface of the surrounding country is beautifully diversified, and
in many parts the scenery is highly picturesque: within the parish are three noble lakes, Alwen, Llkn Moelvre, and Llkn
Aled, the last of which is enclosed on almost every side by mountains covered with dark and barren heath. St. Winifred is
said to have retired hither on the death of Benno, and to have placed herself under the protection of St. Elerius, who at
that time was living in devotional seclusion at this sequestered village, where, finding a convent of nuns under the
superintendence of Theonia, she assumed the veil, and after some years' residence became abbess, on the death of her
predecessor. The living is a discharged rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of St. Asaph, rated in the king's books
at £6. 12. 1., and in the patronage of the Bishop of St. Asaph. The church, dedicated to St. James, or, as some with
probability assert, to St. Gwytherin, who lived in the latter part of the sixth century, is a spacious and ancient
structure, but in a very dilapidated condition: in it were deposited the mortal remains of Theonia and St. Winifred,
which latter were removed, after a lapse of five hundred years from her death, to Shrewsbury: the wooden chest in which
these were preserved is still kept; and in the churchyard are four upright stones, marking the site of her grave, one of
which is inscribed and ornamented with a scroll and running foliage. There is also a very ancient gravestone, ornamented
with a cross fleury and chalice, and bearing an inscription, which is now almost illegible. Of the chapel of St. Winifred,
which stood on the south side of the church, there is not a single vestige, nor can any traces be discovered of the
convent over which she is said to have presided. The Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists have each a place of worship. The
interest arising from several charitable bequests is annually distributed among the poor of the parish, on St. Thomas's
day. The average annual expenditure for the support of the poor of the two divisions amounts to £161. 11.