St Twrog's Church, Maentwrog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Twrog's Church |
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St. Twrog's Church
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church in Wales |
| District | Diocese of Bangor |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Parish church |
| Location | |
| Location | Maentwrog, Gwynedd, Wales |
 Location in Gwynedd
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| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John Douglas |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1896 |
| Materials | Granite, Slate roof |
Saint Twrog's Church is a special old church located in the village of Maentwrog. This village is found in the beautiful Gwynedd county of Wales, right inside the amazing Snowdonia National Park. The church is an important historical building, recognized by Cadw as a Grade II listed building. This means it's protected because of its special history and architecture.
Contents
The Story of Saint Twrog
The church was first built way back in the 6th century by a person named Saint Twrog. People believe he was the son of Ithel Hael o Lydaw from Brittany. He also had brothers who became saints, like Saint Tanwg, Saint Tegai, and Saint Baglan.
There are two other churches in Wales named after Saint Twrog: one in Bodwrog and another in Llandwrog. When Saint Twrog first arrived in Maentwrog, the valley was very wet and marshy. This wet land provided him with the materials he needed to build his simple home.
The Famous Twrog's Stone
Near the church's bell tower, there's a very large stone called Maen Twrog. In Welsh, maen means stone. Legend says that Saint Twrog threw this huge stone from the top of a mountain called Moelwyn. It supposedly crushed a pagan altar in the valley below. People even say you can still see his handprints in the stone! The village of Maentwrog actually gets its name from this very stone.
Ancient Trees in the Churchyard
The yew trees in the churchyard are incredibly old, possibly over 1300 years old! These evergreen trees were often found in ancient burial places because their green leaves symbolized everlasting life. Even though they were linked to older beliefs, the church site would have been Christian 1300 years ago.
Yew trees were also useful for making bows for archery because their wood was very strong. However, yew trees are poisonous, so they were often grown in safe places like churchyards, away from people and animals.
A Church with a Long History
Before the current church was built in 1896, there was an older church on the same spot. This earlier church was dedicated to Saint Mary. This connection might be because Cistercian monks used to live in the Maentwrog valley a long time ago. In the village, you can still find Saint Mary's well, and across the valley, there's a lake called Llyn Mair (Saint Mary's Lake).
In 1504, the church was a small chapel connected to the larger parish of Ffestiniog. From 1572 to 1624, a famous person named Edmwnd Prys was the rector (the main priest) of the church. He was important because he translated religious songs, called metrical psalms, into the Welsh language. The church's west window today remembers his important work.
Rebuilding and New Features
The church was rebuilt in 1814 on its old foundations. It was described as a neat stone building with a square tower. At that time, it didn't have a separate chancel (the part of the church where the altar is). The main door and porch were on the north side.
In 1896, the church was changed quite a bit. A new chancel was added, along with a special area for baptisms. Beautiful new stained glass windows were put in, including the large east and west windows, and a smaller "Good Shepherd" window. The window in the vestry (a room for the clergy) is called "Son of Consolation." It remembers William Edward Oakeley, who helped pay for the church's restoration in 1896. His wife, Mary Oakeley, created the lovely wood carvings you can see.
During this 1896 update, the old church bell was replaced with eight tubular bells. A new organ was also installed. The old bell was moved to the village school tower. The architect who designed these changes and the church's lych gate (a covered gate to the churchyard) was John Douglas.
Inside the Church Today
Inside the church, on the north side and near the altar, you can see some memorials that were moved from the 1814 church. There's also a carving of Saint Twrog on the pulpit (where sermons are given). A small piece of Edmwnd Prys's original pulpit also remains. The church's parish register, which records important events like baptisms and weddings, goes all the way back to 1695.
Outside in the churchyard, there are three Celtic Cross style memorials for members of the Oakeley family. You can also see a very old and attractive entrance gate that opens onto the main road in Maentwrog.
See also
