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.
The village is 4.5km south of Prestatyn on the A547, the church is in the centre of the village. There is a footbridge over the river to the church on its east bank.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 116 Cadw Listing Notice 1394
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.
The church dedicated to St Cwyfan, and St Ffraed or St Bride, now St Bridget. Locally there was a well dedicated to St Cwyfan. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book. In the Middle Ages the living was appropriated to the Archdeaconry of St Asaph. The west door gives the earliest Dateable feature to C12. Restoration took place in C19 although the roof trusses date to 1579 and the four-light window in the chancel was inserted in 1636. Before its restoration the church was described as a ‘small neat structure’ with a west gallery and closed pews. In 1863 the font was restored and then 1873-5 Sir Gilbert Scott restored the church, rebuilt the west wall, removed the gallery, added the porch, north transept and vestry and installed open seating. A Celtic Cross probably post-Conquest in date is preserved in the nave.
Reference
Buildings of Wales– Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 1394
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
The church was restored in an Early English to Perpendicular style, of nave and chancel with a C19 north transept and vestry. It was built with local axe-dressed and coursed limestone (generally) with freestone dressings. It has a slate roof and ridge tiles. The gables are coped with dross finials at the north and east and there is a bellcote to the west. The massive buttresses give the air of antiquity. The porch has a timber front and a pair of Quatrefoil windows on each side.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 1394
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.
Entry to the church is either through the west door or the south porch, the porch being stone flagged and with side benches. Both doorways have pointed arches. The nave is broad and fully open to the chancel which is broad and short. The division between nave and chancel is shown by a slight contraction to the width and an inclination to the north and a single step up. The nave roof is of 4-bays with braced collar beams, that nearest the chancel has bracing in full arch form with short hammer beams terminating in Scott’s carved angels. The mod truss tie beam carries lettering ‘ER15 1579 dH WH, the lettering is gilded and there is a gilded rose boss beneath. There are three purlins on each side with cusped wind braces and the trimmings of a louvre or bell turret at the centre. The floor is a combination of red and black quarry tiles with some encaustic ones. The font, donated in 1863. The choir has Gothic stalls incorporating a prayer desk on each side, the fronts are carved with a similar blend of blind tracery to the reredos which has a pierced border with a vine trail and a cross above and east wall panelling. The lectern is on the left and the pulpit on the right. The communion rails have paired standards with linking tracery. The stained glass: ‘The Tree of Jesse and Twelve Apostles’, c1500 and 1533. The bell was cast by Mears and Stainbank in 1875.
Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 1394 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.