St Berres' Church, Llanferres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Berres' Church, Llanferres |
|
|---|---|
St Berres' Church, Llanferres, from the northwest
|
|
| OS grid reference | SJ 188 605 |
| Location | Llanferres, Denbighshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Berres |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 26 April 1990 |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Turner (?), Thomas Jones, John Douglas |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Limestone, slate roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Mold Mission Area |
| Deanery | Mold |
| Archdeaconry | Wrexham |
| Diocese | St Asaph |
| Province | Church in Wales |
St Berres' Church is a historic church located in the village of Llanferres, Denbighshire, Wales. You can find it on the A494 road between Mold and Ruthin. This church belongs to the Anglican faith, which is part of the Church in Wales. It is recognized as a Grade II listed building by Cadw, meaning it's an important historic site.
Contents
History of St Berres' Church
The first official mention of St Berres' Church was in 1291. However, it's possible the church building is even older, perhaps from the Middle Ages. Over the years, the church has seen many changes.
- 17th Century Updates: In the 1600s, some parts of the church were changed. A stone with the date 1650 shows when these updates happened.
- 18th Century Rebuilding: More work was done in 1774. An architect from Chester named Joseph Turner likely led this project. Later, another Chester architect, Thomas Jones, added the south transept (a part of the church that sticks out) and the west tower. He might have also added two galleries inside.
- Late 19th Century Restoration: Between 1891 and 1892, a third Chester architect, John Douglas, worked on the church's interior. During this time, the plaster was removed from the walls, and the galleries were taken out. A new screen was also put in. Stained glass from the east window was moved to windows at the west end of the church.
Exploring the Church's Design
St Berres' Church is built using limestone and has slate roofs. Let's look at its different parts.
Outside the Church
The church's main shape includes a nave and chancel (the main body and altar area) all in one section. It also has a south transept, a tower on the west side, and a porch near the front.
- The Tower: The tower has three levels. On the lowest level, there's a doorway on the west side. Above this, you'll see a window with two sections. The middle level has a quatrefoil window on each side. A quatrefoil is a cool design shaped like a four-leaf clover. The very top level has an eight-sided bellcote (a small structure holding bells) with a weathervane on top.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you'll find several interesting features.
- The Font: The font, used for baptisms, has a bowl decorated with quatrefoils and is dated 1684.
- Ancient Slabs: There are two stone slabs called sepulchral slabs. These are very old, from the late 1200s.
- Monuments: You can also see various monuments inside. One dates back to the late 1300s, and others are from the 1600s and 1700s.
Churchyard Features
The churchyard has its own historical elements.
- Gate Piers: The gate piers (the strong posts on either side of the gate) in the churchyard are also listed as a Grade II historic building.
- War Graves: The churchyard is also home to the war graves of two brave service members from World War II. One was a soldier from the Welsh Guards, and the other was an airman.
See also
