St Mark's Church, Brithdir facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mark's Church, Brithdir
St Mark's Church, Brithdir, from the south
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OS grid reference	SH 764 184
Location	Brithdir, Gwynedd
Country	Wales
Denomination	Church in Wales
Website	Friends of Friendless Churches
History
Founder(s)	Mrs Louisa Tooth
Dedication	Saint Mark
Consecrated	26 April 1898
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	26 May 1995
Architect(s)	Henry Wilson
Architectural type	Church
Style	Arts and Crafts
Groundbreaking	1895
Completed	1898
Specifications
Materials	Local grey-green ashlar stone, slate roofs

St Mark's Church, Brithdir is a special old church in the small village of Brithdir, Gwynedd, Wales. It is no longer used for regular church services. This church is protected as a Grade I listed building by Cadw, a group that looks after Wales's historic sites. The Friends of Friendless Churches now take care of it. Many people think it is one of the best examples of the Arts and Crafts Movement style in all of Wales.

History of St Mark's Church

Building the church began in 1895 and finished in 1898. It was officially opened and blessed on April 26, 1898. A famous architect named Henry Wilson designed the church. He was a very important person in the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Mrs. Louisa Tooth asked for the church to be built. She wanted it to be a memorial to her second husband, Charles Tooth. He had been a chaplain and started an Anglican church in Florence, Italy. After the church was no longer used for regular services, the Friends of Friendless Churches took over its care.

Church Design and Architecture

Outside the Church

The church is built with bricks and covered with local grey-green stone. This stone is called ashlar. The roofs are made of slate. The architect wanted the outside stone to look rough and natural. He wanted the church to seem like it grew right out of the ground.

The church has a main hall called a nave. It has two entrances, one on the north and one on the south. There is also a special area near the altar called a chancel. This area has small wings on its north and south sides, called transepts.

At the west end of the church, there are two rows of windows. These windows have a special curved shape at the top called "ogee-headed." A cross shape is carved into the stone between the top windows. Similar windows are on the north and south sides of the church.

On the roof, there is a two-part bell tower called a bellcote. The lower part has a round arch where the bell hangs. A smaller round arch is above it. At the east end, there is a stepped support wall, or buttress. It has a tall, narrow window called a lancet window. On each side of this window, there is another ogee-headed window.

Inside the Church

The inside walls of the church are covered and painted. The walls in the main hall are a rich red color. The ceiling of the main hall is blue. The chancel area is painted a warm cream color, almost yellow.

The main hall has a ceiling that slopes upwards, called a canted ceiling. It has a simple decorative border called a cornice. The north and south doors are made of oak and teak wood. They have a zig-zag pattern called "chevron designs." Small pieces of mother-of-pearl decorate the points of these patterns. This style is called Art Nouveau.

The baptismal font is made of lead. It has a round bowl on top of an eight-sided column. It was made in London and has leaf patterns and Christian symbols carved into it. The pulpit (where sermons are given) and the retable (a screen behind the altar) were also designed by Henry Wilson. They are made from hammered copper. They show the Arts and Crafts style. The pulpit is decorated with grapes and Bible verses.

The chancel ceiling has a special arched shape called a groin vault. The north transept holds an organ. The south transept has a balcony. The seats in the chancel are made from Spanish chestnut wood. Arthur Grove carved them with animal shapes. You can see a hare, a tortoise, squirrels, rabbits, an owl, a mouse, a kingfisher, and even a dolphin!

The altar rails have decorative panels between large posts. The front of the altar was designed by Wilson. It is made of cast copper with pictures on it. On the left, it shows the Annunciation, where the Virgin Mary meets an angel. On the far right, it shows Reverend Tooth with his guardian angel. The reredos, which is a screen behind the altar, is also made of hammered copper. It shows a vine growing from a chalice. On the sides, there are bluebells growing from the Christian symbol "IHS." The organ was built by Peter Conacher in 1901.

Churchyard

The churchyard is the area around the church. It contains the grave of a Royal Flying Corps officer from the First World War. This grave is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Why St Mark's Church is Special

Cadw has given St Mark's Church a Grade I listing. This means it is a very important building. It is a great example of Henry Wilson's work and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Experts say it is one of the most important and advanced buildings of its time. It is also considered one of the best Arts and Crafts churches in Wales. The decorations and fittings inside are some of the most complete and high-quality Arts and Crafts work in Wales.

Gallery

Inside

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  Interior

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  Font

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  Left side of altar panel about Charles Tooth, brother of Arthur Tooth

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  Altar panel showing its relation to Arthur Tooth

Outside

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  Church front

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  Arts and Crafts style on straps

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  Old yew tree with new growth

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  Back

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  Bell tower and back of church

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  Porch