St Marcella, Denbigh

Name:
St Marcella, Denbigh
Record Type:
Parish Church
Church code:
1680
Diocese:
St Asaph
Archdeaconry:
St Asaph
Parish:

Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?
This is a Grade I Listed Building
Scheduled Monument?
There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

The church is not in a Conservation Area

Buildings At Risk Status

On Buildings At Risk Register?
This church is not on the Buildings at Risk Register
 

Approximate Date

Approximate Date:
Medieval

Exterior Image

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Summary Description

Denbigh was in Medieval times a borough situated on a north - south ridge the town became the county town of Denbighshire in 1536 and one of four administrative town in Wales (the others being Caernarfon, Carmarthen and Brecon), the location of chancery and exchequer courts. The county town status was transferred to Ruthin in 1899. A house ‘Gwaenynog’ owned by the Middleton family was the inspiration for the Beatrix Potter’s illustrations for her ‘Peter Rabbit’ book. The town’s parish church is set ‘out of town’. Site of the C7 cell of St Marchell the Virgin. Established as the parish church of Denbigh following the construction of a new town and castle by Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln at the turn of the C13/C14; the church is first mentioned in the Norwich Taxatio of 1291. Its curious siting, almost a mile from the fortified town, is also a feature of the parish churches of Ruthin and Caernarvon, both similar and contemporary foundations. The church represents a classic example of the twin-naved 'Vale of Clwyd' type, having parallel N and S chambers of equal dimensions and with no architectural division between nave and chancel spaces. The present building is largely the result of a late Perpendicular remodelling of c1500 and includes a tall, contemporary (or perhaps marginally later) W tower. The S chamber, however, incorporates earlier fabric which clearly relates to the primary church. A blocked pointed arch at its W end and a masonry break with irregular quoining half-way along the southern wall probably indicate the extent of the original nave; the dressings are in the red/brown sandstone characteristic of late C13 and early C14 work in the vale. An antiquated south porch was added in 1722 and the whole appears to have undergone light restoration in 1854. Further restorations were undertaken in 1908 and 1915. Some traces of external render (from which the name Whitchurch derives) still remain, especially on the tower and the N chamber. Reference The Encyclopaedia of Wales & Cadw Summary Description of a listed Building

Visiting and Facilities

The church is open for worship.
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Church Website

Church Website:
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Sources and Further Information

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/165339/details/ [Digital Archive/Document]
CPAT (2016) Historic Environment Record http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?prn=CPAT102023 [Digital Archive/Document]
land registry doc (2007) Plan of St Marcella from land registry doc [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Plan of St Marcella from land registry doc