St Brothen's Church, Llanfrothen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Brothen's Church, Llanfrothen
St Brothen's Church, Llanfrothen, from the southwest
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OS grid reference	SH 622 411
Location	Llanfrothen, Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church in Wales
Website	Friends of Friendless Churches
History
Dedication	Saint Brothen
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	30 November 1966
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Groundbreaking	13th century
Specifications
Length	66 feet (20 m)
Width	20 feet (6 m)
Materials	Stone, slate roof

St Brothen's Church, Llanfrothen, is an old church in the village of Llanfrothen, Gwynedd, Wales. It is no longer used for regular church services. This special building is protected as a Grade I listed building by Cadw. This means it is a very important historical site. Cadw described it as "a fine Medieval church" with many interesting features inside and out. The church is now looked after by the Friends of Friendless Churches. This charity helps save old churches that are no longer in use.

The Church's Long History

Early Beginnings and Medieval Times

People say that St Brothen's Church stands on a spot chosen by Saint Brothen himself. This was way back in the late 500s. Saint Brothen was supposedly one of the seven sons of a famous Welsh legend, Helig ap Glanawg. Most of the church you see today was built in the 1200s. This was during the time known as the Middle Ages.

Changes Over the Centuries

The church got a new roof in the 1400s. Later, in the 1600s, a small porch was added on the south side. A bellcote, which holds the church bells, was also added around this time. In 1844, the church was fixed up. This was part of a big movement called the Victorian restoration. During this time, many old churches were repaired and updated. More work was done later in the 1800s. New windows were put in the main part of the church, called the nave. The floor was also covered with new tiles.

A New Chapter for the Church

In 2002, the church was given to the charity called the Friends of Friendless Churches. They took over caring for the building. They have a very long lease, which started in 2005. This means they will look after the church for a very long time. The churchyard is also a special place. It is where Richard Humphreys and Margaret Wynn are buried. They were the parents of Humphrey Humphreys, who became a Bishop of Bangor and later a Bishop of Hereford.

Exploring the Church's Design

Outside the Church Building

St Brothen's Church is built on a hill that slopes down from west to east. Because of this, the floor inside the church also slopes. The church is made from local stone. Its roof is covered with slate. The church has a simple shape, like a long rectangle. This shape includes both the main seating area (the nave) and the chancel, which is where the altar is. There is also a small porch on the south side. The church is about 66 feet (20 metres) long and 20 feet (6 metres) wide.

On the west end of the roof, there is a double bellcote. This is a small structure that holds two bells. The window at the east end of the church has three tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. The middle one is a bit taller than the other two. The window at the west end is a single lancet window. On the north wall, you can see a doorway that was once used but is now blocked up.

Inside the Church Building

When you step inside, you will see old-fashioned box pews. These are like small wooden boxes where people used to sit. Some of these pews were made during the 1800s repairs. Others were put together using parts from even older pews from the 1600s and 1700s. The floor is covered with red and black Victorian quarry tiles.

The stone font, where baptisms take place, is shaped like an octagon. It was made in the 1400s and shows the Perpendicular style of English Gothic art. The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, is made of oak. It is also octagonal and has a simple design from the 1600s. You can also see an oak reading desk, which is dated 1671.

Behind the altar, which is from the 1400s, there is a reredos. This is a decorative screen or shelf. It has a curved wooden beam supported by two old posts. Between the nave and the chancel, there is a beautiful rood screen. This screen is also made of oak. It has a main opening in the middle and four more openings on each side. Scientists used tree-ring dating to study the wood. They found that the trees used to make the screen were cut down between 1496 and 1506.

Images for kids

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  St Brothen's Church, Llanfrothen, from the southwest