St Benedict's Church, Gyffin

St Benedict's Church, Gyffin
St Benedict's Church, Gyffin is located in Conwy
St Benedict's Church, Gyffin
St Benedict's Church, Gyffin
Location in Conwy County Borough
53°16′31″N 3°50′11″W / 53.2753°N 3.8364°W / 53.2753; -3.8364
OS grid referenceSH 776 769
LocationGyffin, Conwy, Conwy County Borough
CountryWales
DenominationChurch in Wales
History
Statusactive
DedicationSaint Benedict
Associated peopleReverend Canon T J Jones (area dean)
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated23 September 1950
Architectural typeChurch
Groundbreaking1300, with earlier origins
Administration
DioceseBangor
ArchdeaconryBangor
DeanerySynod Bangor
ParishBro Celynnin

St Benedict's Church is an active parish church in Gyffin, Conwy, Conwy County Borough, Wales. Formerly a village, and now a suburb of the town, Gyffin lies immediately south of Conwy on the south bank of Afon Gyffin. Cadw records that the present church dates from c.1300, although possibly with earlier origins. The church is designated a Grade I listed building.

History

The church dates to at least the 13th century.[1] The nave and most of the existing fabric is later medieval, and the porch and chapel are later than that. The church was extensively restored in 1858.[2] The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) records the church's most notable feature as being the chancel's painted ceiling. This has 16 panels depicting saints.[3] Richard Haslam, Julian Orbach and Adam Voelcker, in their 2009 edition Gywnedd, in the Buildings of Wales series, note that the paintings, "though not of high quality, are worth seeing".[4]

The church remains an active parish church in the Diocese of Bangor and regular services are held.[5]

Architecture and description

St Benedicts is a small and simple church comprising a nave, chancel with side chapels and a vestry. The construction material is local rubble, under a slate roof.[2] St Benedict's is a Grade I listed building.[1] The wall surrounding the churchyard and its gates, and three grave stones are also listed, all at Grade II.[6][7][8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b Cadw. "Church of St Benedict (Grade I) (3291)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Church Heritage Record 2058: St Benedicts". Church in Wales. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  3. ^ "St Benedict's Church, Gyffin (43691)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  4. ^ Haslam, Orbach & Voelcker 2009, p. 382.
  5. ^ "Church of St Benedict, Gyffin". Church in Wales. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  6. ^ Cadw. "Wall, including gate piers and gate, surrounding Gyffin churchyard (Grade II) (3294)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  7. ^ Cadw. "Grave slab of Hugh Owen of Bodidda in Gyffin churchyard (Grade II) (3293)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ Cadw. "Grave slab of John Holland and John Holland in Gyffin churchyard (Grade II) (3292)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  9. ^ Cadw. "Grave slab of John Stodart in Gyffin churchyard (Grade II) (87446)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 8 September 2024.

Sources

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