St Mark's Church, Brithdir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mark's Church, Brithdir |
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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 a small village called Brithdir, in Gwynedd, Wales. It's a "redundant church," which means it's no longer used for regular church services. It's protected as a Grade I listed building by an organization called Cadw, because it's very important. The Friends of Friendless Churches group takes care of it now. Many people think it's one of the best examples of the Arts and Crafts Movement style in all of Wales.
Contents
History of St Mark's Church
The building of St Mark's Church began in 1895. It was finished in 1898 and officially opened on April 26 of that year. The church was designed by Henry Wilson. He was a very important person in the Arts and Crafts Movement. This movement focused on traditional craftsmanship and simple forms.
Mrs. Louisa Tooth asked for the church to be built. She wanted it to honor the memory of her second husband, Charles Tooth. He had been a chaplain and started an Anglican church in Florence, Italy. Louisa Tooth's family owned a large hall in Denbighshire.
Since the church stopped being used for regular services, it has been looked after by the Friends of Friendless Churches. This group helps to save and care for old churches that are no longer in use.
Church Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
The church is built with bricks, but its outside is covered with local grey-green ashlar stone. The roofs are made of slate. The architect, Henry Wilson, wanted the outside stone to look rough. He wanted the church to seem like it grew right out of the ground.
The church has a main area called a nave. It also has small entrance rooms, called porches, on the north and south sides. At the front, there are two rows of windows with a special "ogee" shape. Between the top windows, there is a cross carved into the stone.
Similar windows are placed on the north and south sides of the church. On the roof, there is a two-level bellcote (a small tower for bells). The lower part has an arch with the bell inside. The east end of the church has a stepped buttress (a support wall). It has a round-arched window, with ogee-shaped windows on each side.
Inside the Church
The inside walls of the church are covered and painted. The walls in the nave are a rich, warm red color. The nave roof is blue, and the chancel (the area near the altar) is a warm cream or yellow color. The nave roof has three sections and a sloped ceiling.
The north and south doors inside the church are in the Art Nouveau style. They are made of oak and teak wood, with zigzag patterns. They even have shiny mother-of-pearl decorations. The baptismal font (a basin for baptisms) is made of lead. It has a round bowl on an eight-sided column. It was made in London and has leaf patterns and Christian symbols.
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, with the pulpit decorated with grapes and Bible verses.
The chancel ceiling has a special curved shape called a groin vault. The north side of the chancel has an organ. The south side has a gallery, which is like a balcony. The seats in the chancel are made from Spanish chestnut wood. Arthur Grove carved them with animal pictures, like a hare, a tortoise, squirrels, rabbits, an owl, a mouse, a kingfisher, and a dolphin.
The altar rails have panels between large posts. The altar frontal (the front covering of the altar) was designed by Wilson. It's made of cast copper and has pictures. On the left, it shows the Annunciation, with the Virgin Mary and a dove facing an angel. On the far right, it shows Reverend Tooth and his guardian angel.
The reredos (a screen behind the altar) is also made of hammered copper. It shows a vine growing from a chalice (a cup). On the sides, there are bluebells growing from the Christian symbol "IHS." The organ was built in 1901 by Peter Conacher of Huddersfield.
Churchyard Features
The churchyard is the area around the church. It contains a special grave for 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 Important
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 considered one of the few true Arts and Crafts churches in Wales. Many believe its inside decorations and fittings are the best and most complete 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
