The name or dedication of the church.
This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.
A unique identification number given to every church.
The name of the diocese in which the church is located.
The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.
This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.
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There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.
Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.
There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites.
There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.
The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales.
It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).
This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.
Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc.
If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.
Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).
This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.
This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.
This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.
Ruabon in 9km south of Wrexham via the A483 and 16km north of Oswestry via the A5 and the A483. The church is in the centre of the town between Bridge Street and Church Street.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 117 Cadw Listing Notice 1622
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.
If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.
A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.
A church was recorded here in 1253 dedicated to St Collen. A west tower was erected in C14 and a south east chapel in 1755.The church was remodelled by T F Pritchard of Shrewsbury in 1769-70. It was then substantially rebuilt by Benjamin Ferry at the instigation of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn 6th Baronet of Winnstay Hall. The nave arcade, clerestory, aisle and windows date from this phase. The windows had been Perpendicular but the new ones were a bastardised form of Perpendicular.
Reference Buildings of Wales– Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 1622
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
This is a ‘Cheshire’ style church like Holt and Overton. The church was built with Cefn sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings beneath a slate roof, there are cross finials and the ends of the roofs. It has a C14 tower with diagonal buttresses, a C14 arched west door with a 3-light window above and with C14 2-light bell openings at the third stage, above is an embattled parapet above which is a flagpole and there is a stair tower to the north east corner. The church has gabled aisles, clerestoried nave, c19 south porch and at the east end crocketed perpendicular buttresses. Two phases of medieval work are to be found on the south wall.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 1622
Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.
Information about any important features and building fabric.
If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.
Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.
This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.
The C19 nave is of 5-bays with alternating octagonal and circular piers all beneath a C19 timber roof. The clerestory windows alternate with square and arched heads. There is a shallow chancel with two C16 cusped niches in the east wall. On either side of the chancel are C18 chapels. The C15 wall painting on the south wall was restored in 1870 ‘The works of Mercy’ in Welsh. The freestanding font at the west end has a small marble bowl. Ther is a mid C18 pulpit on the north side of the chancel arch with an hexagonal stem and lively carving. The altar tails date from 1845. The church contains a significant number of memorials. The stained glass: ‘Scenes from the Life of Christ’, Ward & Hughes (designer T F Curtis), 1888; ‘Christ with Angels and Figures Bearing Crosses’, Ward & Hughes (designer George Measures Parbly, 1898; ‘Ascension Scenes from the Parables’, Charles Alexander Gibbs, 1872; ‘The Virgin Mary and a Woman Performing Acts of Mercy’, Ward & Hughes designer (designer George Measures Parbly), c1889; ‘Scenes from the Gospels with Mary and Martha’, c1859; ‘The Resurrection, Christ in the Garden of gethsemane and Christ carrying the Cross’, Ward & Hughes,1872; ‘The Crucifixion with Scenes from the Gospels’, Ward & Hughes, 1884; ‘The Good Wife’, Ward & Hughes designer (designer George Measures Parbly), 1892. The church has a ring of six bells, four were cast in 1768 by Thomas Rudhall, one was cast in 1884 by John Barwell and one was cast in 1955 by John Taylor & Co.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 1622 Stained Glass in Wales A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead
Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings.
Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.
A description of the ecology of the churchyard.
Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.
Records whether the church has been consecrated.
Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.
Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.
Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.
Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.
Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community.