St Mary's Church, Betws Gwerful Goch

St Mary's Church, Betws Gwerful Goch, is in the village of Betws Gwerful Goch, Denbighshire, Wales. It is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Penllyn & Edeyrnion, the archdeaconry of Wrexham and the diocese of St Asaph.[1] The church is designated by Cadw as a Grade II* listed building.[2]

St Mary's Church, Betws Gwerful Goch
St Mary's Church, Betws Gwerful Goch, from the north
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
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Revd S. J. Roberts

History

The building dates probably from the 12th century although there may have been an earlier church on the site dedicated to Saint Elain.[3] It was restored by the Chester architect John Douglas in 1881–82.[4] In the process of this restoration, the north door was removed, a vestry with a chimney was added, and the box pews were taken out. The plaster was removed from the walls, windows were replaced, a buttress was added to the south side, a new screen was erected. A new bellcote with a spire, and the lychgate were added. In 1985 the bellcote had to be removed.[3]

Architecture

The church is built in shale. The roofs are covered in slates, with stone ridge tiles. Its plan consists of a nave and a chancel, with a south porch and a vestry to the north of the chancel. At the east end is a stone cross finial. The east window is part of Douglas' restoration; it consists of three lights with ogee heads.[3]

See also

• List of church restorations, amendments and furniture by John Douglas

References

1. Betws Gwerful Goch with Llangwm (Dinmael) with Llawrybetws, Diocese of St Asaph, retrieved 9 February 2014
2. Cadw, "Church of St Mary  (Grade II*) (664)", National Historic Assets of Wales, retrieved 2 April 2019
3. Church of St Mary , Bettws Gwerfil Goch, Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, retrieved 21 June 2009
4. Hubbard, Edward (1986), Clwyd, The Buildings of Wales, London: Penguin, pp. 141–142, ISBN 0-14-071052-3

• 
  Douglas' design for the restoration of the church (from the southeast), showing the bellcote and spire
• 
  Douglas' groundplan for the restoration