St Mary's Church, Betws Gwerful Goch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church,Betws Gwerful Goch |
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St Mary's Church, Betws Gwerful Goch, from the north
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| OS grid reference | SJ 032 465 |
| Location | Betws Gwerful Goch, Denbighshire |
| Country | Wales |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 20 October 1966 |
| Architect(s) | John Douglas (restoration) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Shale with slate roofs and stone ridge tiles |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Penllyn & Edeyrnion |
| Archdeaconry | Wrexham |
| Diocese | St Asaph |
| Province | Church in Wales |
St Mary's Church is a special old church located in a village called Betws Gwerful Goch in Denbighshire, Wales. It's an active Anglican church, which means it's still used for services today. The church is considered a very important building by Cadw, a Welsh government group that protects historical sites. It has a special Grade II* listing, meaning it's a building of more than special interest.
History of the Church
This church probably started being built in the 12th century, which is over 800 years ago! Some people think there might have been an even older church on the same spot, dedicated to a saint named Elain.
In 1881–82, a famous architect from Chester named John Douglas worked on the church. He made many changes to restore it, which means bringing it back to good condition.
Here are some of the things John Douglas did:
- He removed the north door.
- He added a small room called a vestry (a room where priests get ready) with a chimney.
- He took out the old box pews (enclosed seats).
- He removed the plaster from the walls.
- He replaced some of the windows.
- He added a buttress (a support structure) to the south side of the church.
- He put in a new screen inside the church.
- He also added a new bellcote (a small tower for bells) with a spire (a pointy top) and a lychgate (a covered gateway to the churchyard).
However, in 1985, the bellcote had to be removed because it was no longer safe.
What the Church Looks Like
St Mary's Church is built using a type of rock called shale. Its roofs are covered with slate tiles, and the top edges of the roof have stone ridge tiles.
The church has a simple layout, with two main parts:
- The nave is the main area where people sit during services.
- The chancel is the part near the altar, usually at the east end.
There is also a porch on the south side, which is like a small entrance area. The vestry is on the north side, next to the chancel.
At the very east end of the church, there's a stone cross finial (a decorative top piece). The east window was part of John Douglas's restoration. It has three sections, called "lights," and each section has a curved top shape known as an ogee head.
