Church Heritage Cymru

Church Heritage Cymru 1513

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St Collen, Llangollen

Name:

The name or dedication of the church.

St Collen, Llangollen
Record Type:

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.

Parish Church
Church code:

A unique identification number given to every church.

1513
Diocese:

The name of the diocese in which the church is located.

St Asaph
Archdeaconry:

The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.

Montgomery
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

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.

This is a Grade I Listed Building
Scheduled Monument?

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 is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

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. 

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.

The church is in a Conservation Area

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Buildings At Risk Status

On Buildings At Risk Register?

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. 

This church is not on the Buildings at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

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).

Medieval

Exterior Image

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Summary Description

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.

Set in the Vale of Llangollen the area has been a haunt of tourists since C18, it lies just beyond the industrial area of north Wales and has a salmon stream, the River Dee flowing through the town. The river bridge is one of the ‘Wonders of Wales’. The town has been home to an International Eisteddfod since 1947. Reference The Encyclopaedia of Wales Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003

Visiting and Facilities

Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc. 

The church is open for worship.
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Church Website

Church Website:

If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.

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Sources and Further Information

Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).

View information on worship and access at this church on the Church In Wales web site
RCAHMW (2004) Coflein http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/221/details/ [Digital Archive/Document]
http://www.coflein.gov.uk/
CPAT (2016) Historic Environment Record http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?prn=CPAT101175 [Digital Archive/Document]
CPAT (2016) Welsh Historic Churches Survey http://www.cpat.demon.co.uk\projects\longer\churches\denbigh\16870.htm [Digital Archive/Document]
http://www.cpat.demon.co.uk/projects/longer/churches/idxall.htm

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.

Grid Reference: SJ 216 419

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Church address

Address
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
St Collen Church Street LLANGOLLEN LL20 8HN

Administrative Area

Unitary Authority:

This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.

Sir Ddinbych - Denbighshire

Location and Setting

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.

Llangollen is on Telford’s Holyhead road some 320km north west of London, and via the A539, some 18km south west of Wrexham, the church is in the middle of the town, down stream of the bridge behind the Hand Hotel and Regent Street.

Reference
AA Route Planner 
OS Map 117
Cadw Listing Notice 1164

Church Plan

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Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

This is a description of the ground plan of the church.

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Dimensions

If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.

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Description of Archaeology and History

A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.

 A Gothic church, with the founding of the Valle Crucis Abbey (upstream) in 1200 the church was appropriated to the new monastery.  A dispute in 1274 signalled the importance of the church as Wrexham, Ruabon, Chirk, Llansantffaid and Llandegla were all dependant chapels. The church was mentioned in the Norwich taxation as ‘Ecclesia Llancallen’ of 1254 and in the 1291 Taxation it was referred to as ‘Llangollen, and it was valued at £36. 10s. A serious fire occurred in C16? In c1745 the old church tower was taken down and replaced by a stone tower at a cost of £160 and a gallery was added about this time able to seat 100 people. Between 1864 and 7 the church was remodelled by S Pountney Smith, a Shrewsbury architect, he retained the C18 tower and enlarged the church with the addition of a south aisle and an aisled chancel all at a cost of £3097.  The pews and west gallery wee removed, the tower was opened up and a west doorway created.  In 1896 a sacristy was added at the north-west corner of the north aisle which is now the choir vestry.

Reference
Buildings of Wales– Clwyd 2003
Cadw Listing Notice 1164

CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey

Exterior Description

A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.

The church has a central west tower, chancel and northwest vestry and a triple nave.  The churchyard wall is made from a mudstone with pieces of volcanic ash flow tuff incorporated.  The body of the church has medieval rubble stone irregular and of variable size there are blocks of slate, shale and fine-grained sedimentary rock, the tower is coursed rubble of blocks and slabs of grey and brown shaly slate with some coursing. The Victorian work – the tower - is snecked rubble blocks and slabs of pale sandstone with ashlar for the quoins and buttress faces.  The window dressings are sandstone but carboniferous limestone has been used for the capitals all under a slate roof.  The tower has four stages with a parapet which has urn finials and a round arched louvred bell stage openings.  The fourth stage also has projecting blocks at angles which look like gargoyles but show no function as water spouts.

Reference
Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003
Cadw Listing Notice 1164
CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.

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Building Fabric and Features

Information about any important features and building fabric.

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Building Materials

If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.

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Interior Image

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Interior Description

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 roof is a fine example of a medieval roof over the nave and north aisle.  It is a splendid hammer beam roof of 6-bays with extensive timber ornament.  It is said to have come from Valle Crucis Abbey and although there is no documentary evidence the timbers appear to be ‘re-used’.  They do not correspond with the bays of the arcade.  They have triple purlins and broad reed rafters with righteously carved bosses; the midway principals between each heavily pegged truss are moulded to suggest colonettes with figurehead capitals.  The western 4-bays  have cusping below the ridge and punch mouchettes spandrels to hammer beams, the ends of which have long springer brackets. The intermediate principals are carved with masks, beasts, and figures both secular and sacred subjects.  The Perpendicular arcade is of 4-bay to the north and 3-bays to the south, it is supported by polygonal piers and 2-oder arches. Where the medieval chancel was is a panelled linen  fold band all along the wall head of the eastern 2-bays.  These are elaborately ceiled at collar level with vertical and horizontal quatrefoil banding and diamond shaped patterns. To the tower arch is a glazed screen. The northern aisle has a less elaborate 6-bay hammer beam roof. There is, however, strapwork ornamental wall head panelling with foliage and fish trails to the panels on the arcade wall. The Victorian south aisle has a hammer bream roof and is screened from the porch at its west end. Dating from 1902 is an iron chancel screen.  The chancel is of 2-bays with arcade, the wagon roof is of 24 panels painted blue.  There is an octagonal ball flower pulpit. The font was constructed with a number of different limestones, the base and top are highly carved Jurassic oolitic limestone from Gloucestershire, it sits on four columns of dark polishes Carboniferous Limestone with top collars of a stone similar to the Devonian Limestones from Torquay.  The base is carboniferous crinoidal limestone from Derbyshire.  The carved altar screen is cut from a Middle Jurassic limestone that is not oolitic but probably comes from Caen in Normandy. The stained glass: ‘Scenes from the Passion of Christ’, c1890; ‘Christ with the Four Evangelists and Prophets’, Done & Davies, c1867; ‘The Presentation of Christ in the Temple’, David Evans, 1853; ‘St Collen’, Linden Glass Studios, 1965; ‘Scenes from the Life of Christ’, William Holland, 1849; ‘The Resurrection and Ascension of Christ’, Alexander Gibbs & Co, c1878; ‘The Risen Christ Appearing to St Mary Magdalene’, Alexander Gibbs & Co, 1879; ‘Blessing Children Brought by their Mothers’, Alexander Gibbs & Co, 1879. There is a monument to Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler (The two Ladies of Llangollen) in the south aisle created by Violet Labouchere and commissioned by Dr Mary Garden, herself a feminist and author of a biographical novel about the Ladies, she and the artist served as models.  At the northwest end of the church are two hatchments, one having Hanoverian Arms. The church has a ring of 8 bells cast by John Taylor & Co in 1887.

Reference

Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003
Cadw Listing Notice 1164
CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey
Stained Glass in Wales
A National Bell Register - George Dawson's Website - Homestead
Welsh Stone Forum National Museum of Wales Number

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings. 

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Portable Furnishings and Artworks

Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.

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Ecology

A description of the ecology of the churchyard.

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Ecological Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

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Burial and War Grave Information

Records whether the church has been consecrated.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.

It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.

It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?

Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.

The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage Designations

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Parish Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Parish Church

Churchyard Structures

Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.

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Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Setting Significance Description:

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.

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Fabric Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Fabric Significance Description:

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.

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Interior Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Interior Significance Description:

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.

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Community Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

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Community Significance Description:

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. 

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Church Renewables

Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.

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Species Summary

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Parish Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

"Seek Advice" Species

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator

If any of the following species have been seen close to the Parish Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Parish Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Parish Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Parish Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Parish Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Tina AndrewModified asset dataFri 12 Apr 2024 15:51:41
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionSun 28 May 2023 09:14:00
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionMon 20 Feb 2023 10:31:27
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionMon 20 Feb 2023 10:29:01
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionMon 20 Feb 2023 10:28:23
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionMon 20 Feb 2023 10:27:56
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Location and Setting DescriptionMon 20 Feb 2023 10:27:03
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionMon 20 Feb 2023 10:26:35
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Approximate DateMon 20 Feb 2023 10:26:11
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the National Park informationMon 20 Feb 2023 10:26:03
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