Church Heritage Cymru 1217

This is a medieval church on an early Medieval site.  It was recorded in the Norwich taxation in 1254 with a value of 13s 4d and in Pope Nicholas’ Taxation in 1291. The C13 church was damaged in the wars between Edward I and the Welsh Princes but the amount of compensation paid suggests that it was a wooden church, sometime after 1281 a stone church was constructed.  The building was extended westward in C14 and traces of the south doorway were discovered during the restoration of 1953.  A Romanesque chevron from the early church has been built into the fabric of the tower.  Lady Margaret Beaufort (1441 – 1509, Mother of Henry VII) is said to have enlarged the church. On the eve of the Reformation the second or third earl of Derby* added the arcade, the north aisle and the fine west tower. A roundel has the date 1533 which has been presumed to relate to reconstruction work by Lord and Lady Stanley* who also presented the church with a font bearing an eagle’s claw was has subsequently been transferred to Llanfynydd Church.  The present nave (the north nave of the double nave church) was added in C15 and the two perpendicular east windows were inserted. The tower was completed in 1568.  A new church clock was added in 1788.  During the C19 there was some rebuilding, in 1825 the north wall was rebuilt and Georgian windows added.  In 1828 there was some reseating and a new stone font was purchased. Between 1859 and 1867 the nave was reroofed, in 1864 the organ was donated and installed in the west gallery. J Oldrid Scott, the son of Sir Gilbert Scott restored the church in 1884-5. he removed the west gallery and old box pews, the floor was raised 15inches and re-laid with tiles, the organ was moved to the east end of the south aisle and screens were installed to separate it from the chancel and to the east end buttresses were rebuilt al at a cost of £1550.  The tower masonry was repaired in 1912 and new stone steps were placed at the entrance, the interior was restored and redecorated in 1953 when wall paintings were uncovered. In 1967 a north porch was added and in 1989 repairs to the roof were carried out.

*The Stanley Family are earls of Derby

Reference
Buildings of Wales– Clwyd 2003
Cadw Listing Notice 27

CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey

The is a double-nave church (which suggests a Stanley Church), with a large battlemented west tower, it was built initially in medieval times with yellow, grey and occasional red sandstone, of very irregular size and coursing and with rounded blocks, heavily pointed with some limewash.  The C16 work was with large, well-dressed blocks of medium grained buff and light brown sandstone. Work from the 1825 rebuilding/restoration is largely medium to large buff sandstone with some limestone, mostly regular in shape and with some coursing. There is a slate roof with sandstone ridge tiles, gabled parapets with moulded kneelers, copings and with cross finials to the east end of the south aisle and chancel and the west end of the south aisle. The four-stage tower is on a double-chamfered plinth with stepped angle buttresses with pointed- arched bell windows on each face.  The sandstone battlements have chamfered crenellations and a simply-moulded band below with plain gargoyles to the corners.  It has a shallow-pitched pyramid roof topped with an iron weathervane. On the west wall is a clock face bearing the date 1888.  The north vestry is built with (probably reused) block of sandstone, it was constructed in 1850 when it replaced the north porch.  In 1967 it was enlarged.  Below the east end of the south aisle is the boiler house which was converted from a crypt after its rear was walled up in 1884. It has a stone floor and a barrel-vaulted roof; mason’s marks are visible on the dressed stone of the walling.

Reference
Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003
Cadw Listing Notice 27
CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey

The continuous double nave and chancel firm the main body of the church, the south aisle is earlier and narrower than the north aisle.  Over the south aisle is a fine 7-bay arched-braced collar truss roof of c1500, it has trefoil and quatrefoil cusped truss apexes with two tiers of windbraces.  In contrast the north aisle has a plain C19 bolted collar truss and king post roof. The aisles are separated by a 4-bay Perpendicular arcade with octagonal piers which have moulded bases and abaci and shallow pointed arches.  There is a parquet floor with red and black quarry tile pavements and C19 oak pews.  A high ceiling is to be found above the lower level of the tower from which six steps lead up to the nave floor. There is a narrow stone spiral staircase within the tower which leads to the bell chamber with simple king-post roof.  The clock is C19 by J Smith and sons of Derby. Over the nave and chancel is a continuous roof dating to the C19 restoration, it is of five bays formed by four collar trusses with king struts and exposed rafters with purlins and plastered ceiling above. Within the arcade spandrels of the north aisle are two large C16 wall painting crouches containing post-Reformation texts in Black Letter Gothic script and a further dethatched fragment to the west end on the wall. Set in a moulded and painted stone frame is a finely carved Royal Arms on the north wall showing the arms of Gorge III (but dated 1825!).  At the east end of the north aisle is a fine second quarter or mid C17 octagonal pulpit. Sitting on a moulded base it has geometric decorations to each main face and fluted Ionic pilasters to the narrower faces together with a carved strapwork frieze and moulded and denrilated cornice.  The font is Perpendicular ins tyle, C19 century by date and octagonal in shape with blind quatrefoils to each face bearing Evangelist symbols and foliate carvings to the spandrels and sitting on an octagonal base. Dating to 1884 is the perpendicular oak chancel screen with open tracery and panelled dado, it has further complex pierced tracery and brattishing to the beam. The chancel and sanctuary are both stepped up and have late C19 polychromed tiles.  The stained glass: ‘The east window’, c1500; ‘Christ the King with Moses and Aaron’. Michael and Arthur O’Connor, 1860.  In c1919 the three original bells dated 1623,1720 and 1793 were removed and meted down by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough to create a ring of six bells.

Reference

Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003
Cadw Listing Notice 27
CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey
Stained Glass in Wales
A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead