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.
Efenechdyd is about 4km south west of Ruthin along the B5105, the church is in the village centre.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 116 Cadw Listing Notice 730
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 morphology of the churchyard suggests a Llan site probably dating to C8. The church was first recorded in the Norwich Taxation of 1253 and in the Ruthin Court Rolls. Masonry breaks in the structure suggest that the chancel was a latter addition. It has a fine late C15/earlyc16 west end porch which is most unusual. The cluster truss roof in mid C14. The church was restored in 1714 and then by Arthur Baker in 1873 at a cost of £500.
Reference Buildings of Wales– Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 730 CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
This is a small single cell parish church built from local limestone square blocks roughly coursed with a slate roof, oversailing eaves with expressed rafter ends. There are stone-coped gable parapets to the east and west ends with a stone gable cross on the east end. A break in the masonry at the chancel junction and thus a narrower chancel. The west gable has a two-stage gabled sandstone bellcote with moulded kneelers and a surmounted gable cross. The chamfered bell opening has a cusped inner arch. The west porch has an upper section which is timber framed with an open front, it has rubble side walls and a slate roof. Over the front is an open truss with oversailing bargeboards with a central pendant/finial. The original oak door is of chamfered post-and-panel construction with top and bottom rails, the upper section is a C19 restoration. There is an original wrought iron knocker. The Tudor-arched sandstone inner entrance has deep hollow chamfer and an incised date of 1873 at the apex.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 730 CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey
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.
The roof is continuous over both nave and chancel but is unusual in that the arch-braced principals alternate with single common rafters, the latter being a C19 restoration feature. At the west end and along the central aisle there is an encaustic pavement. The font is a rare example of a hollowed out, oak, late medieval (C14?) tubs font. Created from a single piece of wood it is nominally circular but has worked into14 sides which diminish down in profile and at the base is a band of large beads or knobs, it sits upon a C19 limestone base. There are C19 oak pews some of which have reused C17 pew ends which have simple geometric tops with chip carved decoration. The chancel is stepped up with the relocation of sections of a late medieval carved brattishing to form a low division between the nave and chancel. These have blind Gothic arcading and crenellations and are probably from the former Rood screen. The semi-octagonal, late C7 pulpit has denrilated and a moulded cornice and geometric decoration to the upper panels. The choir stalls are further pews. The floor of both chancel and sanctuary has polychromed tiles. The oak altar rails appear to be the reusing of late C17/early C18 turned balusters. The remains of the C17 and C18 box pews have been reused for field panelling on the walls. On the north wall of the chancel there is a fragment of a post-Reformation wall pointing depicting the Commandments in Welsh, it is painted in black Gothic script which has been later palimpsest in brown lettering. On the same wall is a benefactors’ board in painted letters in Welsh dated 1787. The stained glass: ‘St Michael’, in the east window, D W Robinson,1984.
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 730 CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey Stained Glass in Wales
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.