St Eleth's Church, Amlwch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Eleth's Church, Amlwch
St Eleth's Church from the south-east
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OS grid reference	SH 441 929
Location	Amlwch, Anglesey
Country	Wales, United Kingdom
Denomination	Church in Wales
History
Status	Church
Founded	6th century (reputedly)
Founder(s)	St Eleth (reputedly)
Dedication	St Eleth
Consecrated	1800 (current building)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	25 October 1951
Architect(s)	James Wyatt
Style	Neo-classical
Construction cost	£2,500 to £4,000 (c. £130,000 to £208,000 in present-day terms)
Specifications
Materials	Rubble masonry with ashlar dressing
Administration
Parish	Amlwch
Deanery	Twrcelyn
Archdeaconry	Bangor
Diocese	Diocese of Bangor
Province	Province of Wales

St Eleth's Church in Amlwch is a beautiful old church built in 1800. It's located in Amlwch, a town on Anglesey island in north Wales. This church was designed in a style called Neo-classical, which means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. It stands where even older churches used to be, with the very first one believed to have been started by a saint named Eleth way back in the 6th century!

During the 1700s, Amlwch became a busy and rich town because of copper mining. More people moved there, and the old church became too small. So, they decided to build a bigger, new one.

Today, St Eleth's Church is still an active church for the Church in Wales. It's also a special building, listed as Grade II*. This means it's considered a very important building because of its history and unique design.

A Long History: From Saint Eleth to Copper Kings

The First Church and Its Founder

The story of St Eleth's Church begins a very long time ago, around the 6th century. It's believed that the first church here was started by a person named Eleth. He was a ruler from northern Britain who had to leave his home. He came to Anglesey and settled at a monastery in Penmon.

Why a New Church Was Needed

Amlwch grew a lot in the 1700s. This happened after copper mining began at nearby Parys Mountain in 1768. As the town got bigger and richer, the old church became too small for all the people.

Planning for a new church started in 1787. A very important person named Thomas Williams, who was known as "the Copper King," offered a lot of money to help. The company that owned the copper mines gave most of the money needed. Other people, like Henry Paget and Reverend Edward Hughes, also donated.

Building the Current Church

Work on the new church finally began. It was designed by a famous architect named James Wyatt. The church was finished and officially opened in 1800. Some old records say it cost about £4,000, while others say it was £2,500. Either way, it was a huge amount of money back then!

The new church was built in the same spot as the older ones. It's located on the east side of Queen Street in the town center.

Changes Over Time

Over the years, the church has had some updates. In 1867, an architect named Henry Kennedy made changes inside. He added decorative stone patterns to the windows, and created a special arch for the chancel (the area near the altar). He also added arcades, which are rows of arches, to create side aisles.

More recently, in 1999 and 2000, the church was restored. During this work, a gallery (a raised seating area) was added at the back. New rooms for baptisms and meetings were also built.

St Eleth's Today

St Eleth's Church is still used for services today. It's part of the Church in Wales. It belongs to the parish of Amlwch, which also includes three other churches nearby. As of 2012, the main priest in charge was H. V. Jones.

Church Design and Features

Outside the Church

St Eleth's Church mainly uses the Neo-classical style, but it also has some parts that look like Gothic buildings. It's built from local stone, with rough rubble stone and smoother, cut stone for details. The roof is made of slate.

At the front of the church, there's a tall tower. This tower has a clock and a room for bells behind big arched windows. The top of the tower has a parapet (a low wall) with pointed decorations called pinnacles at each corner. There are two bells inside: one from 1687 and another from 1820. The main entrance door is also in the tower, with a round window above it.

Inside the Church

Inside, the church has a main area called the nave and a narrower area called the chancel. These areas were separated in the 1800s when the chancel arch was added. The arcades in the nave create side aisles, making the church feel wider. The ceiling inside is smooth and plastered.

The window at the very front of the church has beautiful stained glass from the 1800s. You can also find memorial stones inside, many of which came from the older churches that stood on this site.

Special Fittings and Outside Areas

The church has an organ from the 1800s. It's located in the gallery at the back, which was added during the restoration work in 1999 and 2000. The font, which is used for baptisms, dates from 1900.

Outside the church, at the west end of the churchyard, there's a large lychgate. This is a covered gateway, and it was built in the early 1800s. The gravestones in the churchyard have been moved to the sides, probably to make it easier to look after the grounds.

Why St Eleth's Church is Important

Listed Building Status

St Eleth's Church is a Grade II* listed building. This is the second-highest level of protection for historic buildings in the UK. It means the church is considered "particularly important" and has "more than special interest." It received this status on October 25, 1951.

It was listed because it's a "substantially Neo-classical church" that still has most of its original design. Cadw, the Welsh government body that looks after Wales's historic buildings, notes that later changes didn't hide the original look of the church. They also say the church is important because of its connections to the copper mining history of the area.

The lychgate outside the church is also a listed building, at Grade II. This is because it's a good example of a 19th-century lychgate and fits well with the church itself.

What People Have Said About the Church

Many people have admired St Eleth's Church over the years. In the 1800s, a Welsh historian named Angharad Llwyd called it a "spacious handsome structure." Samuel Lewis, another writer from that time, used very similar words, also noting its "lofty square embattled tower crowned with pinnacles."

More recently, a guide from 2009 described the inside of the church as having "considerable grace." A 2006 guide to Anglesey churches called it "a good example of a tastefully restored church" and a "spacious, high sided building with an impressive tower." It also pointed out that the church's shape is quite unusual for churches on Anglesey.