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 to be found on country roads 7km west of Ruthin. The church is in the centre of the village on the western banks of the Afon Clywedog.
Reference AA Route Planner OS Map 116 Cadw Listing Notice 733
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.
St Mary’s Church Cyffylliog is believed to have been built by Griffith Goch of Bachymbyd at the end of the C12 but it was a chapel of ease to Llanynys until 1873. Until C17 there was a wooden belfry with a heavy timber frame which was replaced by a plain stone gable. In 1856 the chancel floor was raised and reflagged. Much of the early architectural features were swept away by the architect Arthur Baker, working for Revd Rees Williams between 1874 and 1876 when the south entrance and porch were removed and the Medieval Rood Screen was dismantled. Two layers of a wall painting were discovered but with the church lacking its roof the rain rather destroyed them.
On Saturday 27th September, 1645 there was a secret rendezvous between King Charles I and the local royalists, this being on the eve of the sieges of Denbigh and Ruthin.
Reference Buildings of Wales– Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 733 CPAT Denbighshire Historic Churches Survey
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
This is medium-sized rectangular church built with large to medium sized blocks, randomly coursed, of a fine grained sedimentary grey rock with sandstone dressings and flecks of a limewash. It has a slate roof with grey clay roof tiles and with coped and simply-kneelered gable parapets. The rendered south gable is surmounted by a sandstone bellcote with a pointed-arched bell opening above, which in raised letters, has the date 1874. Also at the west end is the Victorian gabled porch, built with roughly dressed random-coursed limestone with a slate roof and sandstone coping
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice
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.
A continuous roof of 10 bays over the chancel and nave with simple braced collar trusses, closely grouped and with stopped purlins. The C19 oak pews have simple scrolled pew ends in two rows which flank the central tiled pavement which has alternating white, red and black tiles. The medieval font was retooled and altered in 1904, it is a pink sandstone with a shafts and chamfered base and plinth all octagonal in shape, its oak, open spire form is C19. The chancel is stepped up and still has its c1500 waggon-vaulted roof with original main members but with Victorian boarding. It has blind tracery and billet-moulding to the main members, with vine scroll decoration to the wall plates. C19 wooden corbels support the principals with foliate ‘Green Man’ carvings. The chancel is separated from the nave by a low screen which is extended upwards to the sides in the form of an open-work sphere truss. These have Perpendicular blind and pierced tracery in tiers. The trusses support as hammerbeam roof with crenelated brattishing and carved angel sculptures to each side. The chancel therefore appears framed, the angels hold shields bearing the inscription in raised letters ‘Sanct Sanct Sanct’ on the southern side and ‘Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia’ on the northern side. This screen incorporates elements of the now removed Rood screen, its southern section incorporated the semi-octagonal pulpit which used the medieval screen panels now with C19 uprights and bratticed cornice. The raised pavement of polychromed encaustic tiles is to the chancel and sanctuary, the sanctuary being two steps up. There are low altar rails, the uprights formed of compound columns with moulded capitals and abaci. There is a tripartite stone re-table with a central marble cross in relief which is framed by gilded rays coming from it. Flanking framed panels with painted depictions of the Virgin Mary and St John the evangelist in C13 linear style in quatrefoil roundels with flanking stylised lily paintings. The stained glass: ‘The Crucifixion with the Virgin Mary and St John together with Old Testament Prophets’, 1912’Christ Blessing the Children Brought by their Mothers’ James Powell and Sons, 1891
Reference Buildings of Wales – Clwyd 2003 Cadw Listing Notice 733 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.