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.
Buckley is on the A549 17 km west of Chester, 4.5 km east of Mold. The church is on the east side of church Road in the north east part of Buckley.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 117
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.
This was the only church in Wales to receive aid from the First Parliamentary Grant of the Church Building Commission, it was built as a chapel of ease in 1821 by John Oates. It became the parish church in 1874.In the years 1897-1805 the church was substantially rebuilt by Douglas and Minshull largely at the expense of Mrs Drew. It was as a memorial to her father, the former Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone who had died in 1898 at Hawarden Castle. Mrs Drew was the wife of the Revd Harry Drew, vicar of St Matthews between 1897 and 1905. Vestries were added first, the chancel in 1900-1 and in 1902 the tower was remodelled and a baptistry forms (as a memorial to Catherine Gladstone), mother of Mrs Drew. She also paid for the south west porch (using the proceeds from publishing letters Ruskin had written to her) in 1902 as a memorial to John Ruskin. The nave was reconstructed in 1904-5 and the nave furnishings were replaced in the late C20. The church is an outstanding example of the work of John Douglas especially of his use of timber - framing in church design.
Reference Buildings of Wales– Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 18755
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The church now displays a Neo-Perpendicular style with Arts and Crafts elements. It was constructed in ashlar with a Westmorland slate roof with red ridge tiles and with distinctive timber framing. There is a nave and polygonal apse, aisles, a southwest porch in the angle between the tower and south aisle together with the gabled north east vestry. The reconstructed tower is now squatter than before and so more in keeping with the overall design. It is battlemented with an octagonal stair tower rising part way while the bell openings are pair louvres with flat traceried heads. The porch has a stepped parapet and an arched entrance within which is a niche containing a statue of St Matthew and with piers which terminate with crocketed finails on either side. The low aisles have 3-light tracery while above is the clerestory which has herringbone timber-framed panels alternating with flat headed windows. The east end has a 5-light traceried window
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 18755
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.
Wooden posts support the arcades strengthened with internal a steel column and above there is a false hammerbeam roof. The walls are exposed ashlar save for the infill of the timber – framed triforium where there is some painted panel decoration of 1910 which was restored in 1963. These panels display stencilled motifs which flank painted figures bearing shields. There are a canted beams above the arcade which are painted with the Beatitudes. At the west end is the Baptistry the decoration of which – elaborate stencilled and painted and executed by W F Lodge in 1903. The motifs are HIS with crowns, level with the top the top window is a frieze and above this are roundels painted with figures representing the virtues. There is a panelled red sandstone octagonal font on a plinth with an ornate oak cover created by Herbert Read of Exeter. There are steps leading to the sanctuary and behind the altar is a beaten copper Arts and Crafts style reredos. The chancel furnishings are by Douglas, are of oak with free-flowing Perpendicular style carved decorations. The cross and candlesticks are copper and also a pair of pedestals on which stand mid-C19 brass candle sticks by Butterworth. The organ is from Bishop and Son, 1905 and is south of the chancel. The stained glass: ‘The Crucifixion’, Henry Holiday, 1901; ‘Faith and Love’, Henry Holiday, 1901, ‘Righteousness and Truth’, Henry Holiday, 1901; ‘Saints from Pilgrim’s Progress’, Harry Stammers, 1903; ‘Priscilla and Aquila, with Scenes commemorating the Church Schools of the Parish’, Celtic Studios, 1967; ‘The Good Shepherd’, Henry Holiday, c1902; ‘St Matthew and St Bridget’, Bryony Benwell and Lindsay Abbot, 2006; ‘Children with Guardian Angels’, Henry Holiday, 1902; ‘Women Teaching Children,’, Charles Ford Whitcombe, 1909; ‘Christ in Glory’, Trena M Cox, 1948; The Good Samaritan’, J A Nuttgens, 1991; ‘Christ with Two Families’, Celtic Studios, 1987; ‘Robert Hughes Memorial Window’ artist Deborah Lowe for Pendle Stained Glass Ltd, 2011. There is a ring of 8 bells cast by John Taylor & Co in 1902.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 18755 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.