Church Heritage Cymru

Church Heritage Cymru 1681

  • Home
Core DetailsLocationBuildingInteriorChurchyardSignificanceEnvironmentAudit

St Mary Virgin, Denbigh

Name:

The name or dedication of the church.

St Mary Virgin, Denbigh
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.

Daughter Church
Church code:

A unique identification number given to every church.

1681
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.

St Asaph
Parish:

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

Please enter a number

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 II* 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

Please enter a number

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
 **************

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).

Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

Work in progress - can you help?

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.

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’. St Mary’s church is a daughter church. Reference The Encyclopaedia of Wales

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.
Work in progress - can you help?
 **************

Church Website

Church Website:

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

Work in progress - can you help?

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/308439/details/ [Digital Archive/Document]
http://www.coflein.gov.uk/
CPAT (2016) Historic Environment Record http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/arch/query/page.php?prn=CPAT26825 [Digital Archive/Document]

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 049 661

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 Mary Virgin Lenten Pool DENBIGH LL16 3HF

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.

Denbigh is 9km south of St Asaph and 13km north west of Ruthin at the junctions of the A453, the A543, the B4501 and the B5382. The church is in close to the Lenten Pool roundabout.

Reference
AA Route Planner 
OS Map 116
Cadw Listing Notice 1007

Church Plan

Work in progress - can you help?

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

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

Work in progress - can you help?

Dimensions

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

Work in progress - can you help?

Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

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

Work in progress - can you help?

Description of Archaeology and History

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

The church was built in 1874 in Victorian Gothic style as a replacement for St Hilary’s church in the castle.  It was designed by Lloyd Williams and Underwood, Denbigh architects.  George Clerk was the contractor. The foundation stone was laid by Miss Mesham of Pont Ruffyd in the presence of the Bishop, Joshua Hughes. A reredos, designed by Lloyd Williams and executed by Earp of Lambeth cause considerable controversy as it was felt to be too Catholic in its depiction of the Crucifixion. A law suit followed and the then the reredos was grudgingly modified.  The consecration was thus delayed for two years.

Reference
Buildings of Wales– Clwyd 2003
Cadw Listing Notice 1007

Exterior Description

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

The church was built in the Decorated style of roughly dressed polygonal limestone blocks with sandstone dressings all beneath a steeply pitched roof with shallower learn-to sections over the aisles and with coped and kneelered gable parapets with a stone gable cross at the east end. The west front of the church facing the road is gabled with three bays with buttresses defining the nave and aisle sections all in the Early English style which includes the central doorway rising through the eaves under coped gables with paired flanking windows. A pointed arch with a moulded inner arch is carried on engaged shafts and leads, up four steps to a large pair of double doors with simple Gothic ironwork.  The aisles have simple 2-light windows, there is no clerestory. Below the north window are steps leading to a basement. The south tower is large built 100 ft tall (30.48m) complete with a large clock on the west face and housing a peel of eight bells.  Rising up halfway on the east side is a small square stair projection. At the top of the tower is a quatrefoil ocular parapet with crocketed gable and finialled octagonal pinnacles to the corners.

Reference
Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003
Cadw Listing Notice  1007

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

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

Work in progress - can you help?

Building Fabric and Features

Information about any important features and building fabric.

Work in progress - can you help?

Building Materials

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

Work in progress - can you help?

Interior Image

Work in progress - can you help?

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 tall nave with north and south aisles is of ten bays with scissor trusses, each alternate one arched-braced onto shaped stone corbels, the aisle roofs are similar.  The arcade has circular piers on moulded bases, they have foliated capitals and narrow pointed arches.  There is a tiled pavement in red, yellow and black. The pews are in pitch pine.  In the south aisle is a circular stone font in the early English style carved by Thomas Earp to the design of the architects, it has cusped niches with foliate-carved diaper back panels and angel figures supporting the moulded cornice.  It is supported on red and grey marble columns.  The Decorated style pulpit by Earp, is octagonal in shape with deep, blind tracery with black and brown marble supporting columns. The chancel arch is large with foliate responds and with steps up into the chancel which has an encaustic tile pavement by Maw and Co under a cluster truss roof. There are Gothic choirstalls with open arcading and oculi and poppyhead bench ends.  Further steps lead up to the sanctuary which again has maw encaustic tiles, moulded oak altar rails on polychromed iron and brass Gothic style supports.  The reredos shows the Crucifixion in relief under canopied niches with heavy cusping, ball flower and other foliate carvings.  It has paired pink marble columns to divide the three sections with scroll-bearing angles above. John Bellamy and organ builder of Denbigh enlarged the C19 organ in 1909. The stained glass: ‘The Crossing of the Red Sea and the Baptism of Christ’, Veronica Whall, 1933; ‘Scenes from the New testament with Twelve Apostles’, J V Rowlands & Co, 1880; ‘Figure of Christ’, c18894; ‘Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Road to Emmaus’, James Ballantine and Son, c1890; ‘The Annunciation and Scenes from the Gospels’, Richard Stubington, 1926; ‘Christ Blessing the Children’, ward & Hughes, c1880; ‘Martha Meets Christ at the Gate of Bethany and the Three Women at the Empty Tomb’, John Harman & Co, 1878; ‘ Scenes from the Resurrection of Christ’, John Hardman & Co, 1874.

Reference

Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003
Cadw Listing Notice 1007
CPAT Flintshire Historic Churches Survey
Stained Glass in Wales

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

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

Work in progress - can you help?

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

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

Work in progress - can you help?

Ecology

A description of the ecology of the churchyard.

Work in progress - can you help?

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 Daughter Church.

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

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

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

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

Work in progress - can you help?

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 Daughter Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Daughter 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 Daughter Church

Churchyard Structures

Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.

Work in progress - can you help?

Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Work in progress - can you help?
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.

Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Work in progress - can you help?
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.

Work in progress - can you help?
Interior Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Work in progress - can you help?
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.

Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Level:

Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.

Work in progress - can you help?
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. 

Work in progress - can you help?

Church Renewables

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

Work in progress - can you help?

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 Daughter 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 Daughter 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 Daughter 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 Daughter 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 Daughter 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 Daughter Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Interior DescriptionThu 27 Jul 2023 15:16:48
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionThu 27 Jul 2023 15:16:08
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionThu 27 Jul 2023 15:15:35
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Location and Setting DescriptionThu 27 Jul 2023 15:15:12
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionThu 27 Jul 2023 15:14:45
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Approximate DateThu 27 Jul 2023 15:14:35
Paul BakerModified the Grid ReferenceThu 27 Jul 2023 14:11:04
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the National Park informationThu 27 Jul 2023 13:58:56
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Asset AddressThu 27 Jul 2023 13:58:42
Paul BakerModified asset data - Modified the Burial and War Grave informationThu 27 Jul 2023 13:57:44
First Previous Next Last 
Page 1 of 2 (11 items)
Page size:
Site Map  | Privacy | T & C | © 2014 - 2025 Church in Wales  | Website by exeGesIS SDM | Rev. 2.2.9173.19815
  • Home
  • Login
  • Register