St Beuno's Church, Penmorfa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Beuno's Church, Penmorfa |
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St Beuno's Church, Penmorfa, from the north
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| OS grid reference | SH 541,402 |
| Location | Near Penmorfa, Gwynedd |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Church in Wales |
| Website | Friends of Friendless Churches |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Beuno |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 19 October 1971 |
| Architect(s) | John Douglas (1889 restoration) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | 14th century |
| Completed | Late 18th century |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roof |
St Beuno's Church, Penmorfa, is a historic church located near Penmorfa in Gwynedd, Wales. It is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) northwest of Porthmadog. This church is special because it is a Grade II* listed building, meaning it is very important historically and architecturally. Today, it is looked after by a group called the Friends of Friendless Churches.
Contents
The Church's Long History
The church stands on a very old site. It was first used by Saint Beuno as a small religious retreat around the end of the 6th century. The main part of the current church, called the nave, was built in the 14th century. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, was added in the 15th century.
Later, in the early 18th century, a south porch was built. A vestry, a room used by the clergy, was added later in the same century. The church has been repaired and updated several times. Major restoration work happened in 1851–53, 1880, and 1889. The last big restoration was done by an architect from Chester named John Douglas.
In 1999, the church was no longer used for regular services. It was then given to the Friends of Friendless Churches charity. This charity now cares for the church and makes sure it is preserved. They even had a special cabinet made to keep the church's collection of old bibles safe.
Church Design and Features
Outside the Church
St Beuno's Church is built from rubble stone, which means rough, uneven stones. Its roof is made of slate. Most of the church walls are covered with a thin layer of plaster, called stucco. The west end of the church has a rough, textured finish called pebbledash.
The church has a simple rectangular shape. It has a continuous nave (the main part where people sit) and chancel (the area near the altar). There is a porch on the south side near the west end. On the north side, you will find the vestry. A small bellcote (a structure holding a bell) is on the west gable (the triangular part of the wall at the end of the roof).
The porch has small windows on each side. One window shows Saint Gybi, and the other shows Saint Cyngar. To the east of the porch, there are three windows with square tops and two sections each. At the west end of the church, there is a square-headed window in the gable and a round-headed window below it. On the north side, there are two windows similar to those on the south side. The east window has three sections. You can also see a sundial on the southeast corner of the church, which is dated 1816.
Inside the Church
Inside, the walls are plastered above a dado, which is a decorative paneling on the lower part of the wall. The screen separating the chancel from the nave is in the Jacobean style. It is decorated with arcades, which look like a series of arches.
The pulpit, where sermons are given, is octagonal and made of oak. It is paneled and dates from 1887. The lectern (where readings are given) and the font cover were carved by Mrs. Constance Mary Greaves. The lectern looks like an angel with wide wings. The font cover is shaped like an eagle. The east wall of the chancel is also paneled with wood. This wood came from a special box pew (a type of enclosed bench) from 1680.
The church has beautiful stained glass windows. A north window was made by Ward and Hughes in 1896. A window in the chancel was created by Meyer of Munich. The west window has very old glass, dating back to the 16th century. Inside the church, you can also find several monuments and a hatchment from 1870. A hatchment is a special coat of arms displayed after someone's death.
Churchyard Features
The churchyard has some interesting historical features. There is a large chest tomb, which is an early example of this type of grave. It is for William Maurice, who died in 1622. This tomb is also a Grade II listed structure.
At the east end of the churchyard, there is a lychgate. A lychgate is a covered gateway to a churchyard, often where coffins were rested before burial. This one was built in 1698 and repaired in the 19th century. It is made of stone with a slate roof and has wooden seats on each side. The lychgate is also a Grade II listed building.
Images for kids
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St Beuno's Church, Penmorfa, from the north
See also
- List of church restorations, amendments and furniture by John Douglas
- St Beuno's Church, Trefdraeth – an Anglesey church also dedicated to Beuno
