St Michael's Church, Tremain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's Church, Tremain |
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![]() West front of St Michael's Church, Tremain
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Location | Tremain (or Tremaen), Ceredigion |
Country | Wales |
Denomination | Church in Wales |
Website | Friends of Friendless Churches |
History | |
Status | Former parish church |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Redundant |
Heritage designation | Grade II* |
Designated | 17 August 2009 |
Architect(s) | John Jones |
Architectural type | Church |
Style | Gothic Revival |
Groundbreaking | 1846 |
Completed | 1848 |
Closed | 2008 |
Specifications | |
Materials | Pwntan sandstone Slate roofs |
St Michael's Church, Tremain, is an old church in the small village of Tremain, in Ceredigion, Wales. It is no longer used for regular church services. This church is very important. Cadw, a group that protects historic buildings in Wales, has given it a special Grade II* listing. This means it is a very important historic building. The church is now looked after by the Friends of Friendless Churches. This group helps to save old churches that are no longer in use.
Contents
History of St Michael's Church
Building the Church
St Michael's Church was built between 1846 and 1848. It stands on the same spot where an even older church used to be. The person who designed this church was an architect named John Jones. He had learned his skills in London. John Jones was also a famous poet, known by his special Welsh name, Talhaiarn.
John Jones was the first architect in Wales to get formal training. St Michael's Church is the only building that he designed all by himself.
Saving the Church
In 2008, the local priest asked for the church to be closed. At that time, it was listed as a Grade II building. But in August 2009, Cadw decided it was even more important. They raised its listing to Grade II*. This higher grade means it is a building of special national importance.
In 2012, the church was officially given to the Friends of Friendless Churches. This group now takes care of the building.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
St Michael's Church is built from a type of stone called Pwntan sandstone. This stone came from a local quarry nearby. The roofs of the church are made of slate.
The church has a simple layout. It includes a main hall called a nave, and a smaller section on the north side called an aisle. There is also a porch on the south side for entering. At the east end is the chancel, which is where the altar is located.
At the west end of the church, there is a single bellcote. This is a small structure that holds a bell. It has a stepped design and a pointed top. On the northwest side, there is a small, eight-sided tower called a turret.
All the windows in the church are lancets. These are tall, narrow windows with pointed tops. The window at the east end has three lights, meaning it is made of three narrow sections. At the west end of the nave, there are two narrow lancet windows. The pointed tops of the gables (the triangular parts of the walls) have decorative stone carvings called finials.
Inside the Church
Inside St Michael's Church, the walls are covered with a smooth plaster called stucco. There are five old oil lamps hanging on the walls. Three are on the north side, and two are on the south.
The grey stone font is very old. It dates back to the 13th century. This font was originally in the even older church that stood here before. It is square in shape and sits on a thick, round base with steps.
The wooden benches, called pews, and the pulpit (where the preacher stands) are made of stained pine wood. There is a wooden screen made of pine between the nave and the north aisle. The pews in the aisle are smaller than those in the main nave. In the chancel, the choir stalls (seats for the choir) are also made of stained pine. They have large, decorative carvings called poppyheads on their ends.