St Garmon's Church, Llanarmon-yn-Iâl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Garmon's Church, Llanarmon-yn-Iâl |
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St Garmon's Church, Llanarmon-yn-Iâl,
from the southeast |
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| OS grid reference | SJ190561 |
| Location | Llanarmon-yn-Iâl, Denbighshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Garmon |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 19 July 1966 |
| Architect(s) | John Douglas |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone with a slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Llanarmon-yn-Iâl |
| Deanery | Dyffryn Clwyd |
| Archdeaconry | St Asaph |
| Diocese | St Asaph |
| Province | Church in Wales |
St Garmon's Church is a special old church. You can find it in the middle of Llanarmon-yn-Iâl village in Denbighshire, Wales. It's an active Anglican church, which means people still use it for worship. It belongs to the diocese of St Asaph. This church is so important that Cadw, a Welsh heritage group, has given it a Grade I listed building status. This means it's a very important historical building.
Contents
History of St Garmon's Church
The church was first built in 1282. Later, around 1450, a second main part, called a nave, was added. In 1736, a lot of the church was rebuilt. A carpenter named Edward Whetnall from Wrexham changed the stone arches between the two naves to wooden ones.
In 1759, a special balcony area, called a gallery, was built. It was made bigger in 1781. The church's entrance porch was probably also made larger in 1774.
In 1870, a famous architect named John Douglas worked on the church. He added windows in the Gothic style. He also made changes to the columns inside. Old-fashioned box pews (like private seating areas) were taken out. The gallery was likely removed around this time too. The church had more updates in 1906, the late 1920s, and the 1970s.
Church Design and Features
Outside the Church
The church is built from stone, mostly limestone with some sandstone. Its roof is made of slates with grey tiles on the top. The church has a unique shape with two main parts, or naves. The north nave is wider and has the main altar area (chancel) at its end. The south nave acts like a side aisle. Its end is separated to be a small room for the clergy, called a vestry.
There is a porch on the south side. At the west end, above the north nave, is a bellcote where two bells hang. The porch has a round decoration on top. The medieval roofs, with their arch-shaped wooden supports, are still there. Some round-topped windows from the 1736 rebuilding can still be seen. Other windows are in the Gothic style, likely added by John Douglas.
Inside the Church
Inside, you'll find a baluster-shaped baptismal font from 1734. This is where baptisms take place. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is thought to have been designed by John Douglas. A beautiful brass chandelier hangs inside. It dates from the 15th or early 16th century. It even has a small figure of the Virgin Mary under a tiny roof.
There are two old stone memorials from the early 1300s. Another memorial is from 1639. The Royal Arms (a symbol of the British monarch) inside the church are from 1740.
Churchyard and Surroundings
The church stands in the middle of its churchyard. This area is almost square with rounded corners. It looks out over the River Alyn. In the churchyard, there's a stone shaft from an old churchyard cross. In 1774, this cross was turned into a sundial, which tells time using the sun's shadow. The churchyard also has the grave of a soldier who died in World War I.
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