St Brothen's Church, Llanfrothen
Encyclopedia
St Brothen's Church, Llanfrothen, is a redundant church
at the edge of the village of Llanfrothen, Gwynedd
, Wales. It has been designated by Cadw
as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
. It is listed at Grade I because it is "a fine Medieval
church retaining much of exterior and interior interest".
in 1844, and a further restoration took place later in the same century when new windows were installed in the nave
and the floor was tiled. It was vested
with the charity
the Friends of Friendless Churches in 2002, who hold a 999-year lease
with effect from 1 January 2005.
The churchyard is the resting place of Richard Humphreys and Margaret Wynn, parents of Humphrey Humphreys
who was Bishop of Bangor and then Hereford.
roof. The plan of the church consists of a simple rectangle forming the nave and the chancel
, and it has a south porch. It measures 66 feet (20 m) long by 20 feet (6 m) wide. On the west gable
is a double bellcote. The east window is a triple lancet
, the central window being larger than the others; the west window is a single lancet. In the north wall is a blocked doorway.
s, some of which date from the 19th-century restoration, while others were reconstructed at that time from 17th and 18th-century box pews. The floor is tiled with red and black Victorian
quarry tile
s. The octagonal stone font
dates from the 15th century and is in English Gothic Perpendicular style. The oak pulpit
is also octagonal, simple in design, and dates from the 17th century. Also in oak is the reading desk, dated 1671. Behind the 15th-century altar is a reredos
consisting of a curved beam supported by two medieval newel
posts. Between the nave and the chancel is a rood screen
, again in oak, with a central opening and four further openings on each side. Tree-ring dating
has shown that the wood used for making it came from trees felled between 1496 and 1506.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
at the edge of the village of Llanfrothen, Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, Wales. It has been designated by Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches is a registered charity active in England and Wales. It campaigns for and rescues redundant historic churches threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. To that end, as of August 2010, it owns 43 former churches or chapels, 23 of which...
. It is listed at Grade I because it is "a fine Medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
church retaining much of exterior and interior interest".
History
According to tradition, the church is built on a site founded by Saint Brothen in the late 6th century. Most of the fabric of the present church dates from the 13th century. It was re-roofed in the 15th century and, the south porch and the bellcote were probably added in the 17th century. The church was restoredVictorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
in 1844, and a further restoration took place later in the same century when new windows were installed in the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and the floor was tiled. It was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
with the charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
the Friends of Friendless Churches in 2002, who hold a 999-year lease
Leasehold estate
A leasehold estate is an ownership of a temporary right to land or property in which a lessee or a tenant holds rights of real property by some form of title from a lessor or landlord....
with effect from 1 January 2005.
The churchyard is the resting place of Richard Humphreys and Margaret Wynn, parents of Humphrey Humphreys
Humphrey Humphreys
Humphrey Humphreys was successively bishop of Bangor and of Hereford .-Life:He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford and was later a Fellow of the college. A patron of Welsh literature, genealogical research and of the then newly-formed Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge...
who was Bishop of Bangor and then Hereford.
Exterior
St Brothen's Church is built on a site that slopes from the west to the east, and the floor of the church slopes correspondingly. It is constructed in local stone, with a slateSlate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
roof. The plan of the church consists of a simple rectangle forming the nave and the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, and it has a south porch. It measures 66 feet (20 m) long by 20 feet (6 m) wide. On the west gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
is a double bellcote. The east window is a triple lancet
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
, the central window being larger than the others; the west window is a single lancet. In the north wall is a blocked doorway.
Interior
Inside the church are old-fashioned box pewBox pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s, some of which date from the 19th-century restoration, while others were reconstructed at that time from 17th and 18th-century box pews. The floor is tiled with red and black Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
quarry tile
Quarry tile
Quarry tile is a building construction material, usually 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick, made by the extrusion process from natural clay or shales. - Sizes and shapes :...
s. The octagonal stone font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
dates from the 15th century and is in English Gothic Perpendicular style. The oak pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
is also octagonal, simple in design, and dates from the 17th century. Also in oak is the reading desk, dated 1671. Behind the 15th-century altar is a reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
consisting of a curved beam supported by two medieval newel
Newel
A newel, also called a central pole, is an upright post that supports the handrail of a stair banister. In stairs having straight flights it is the principal post at the foot of the staircase, but it can also be used for the intermediate posts on landings and at the top of a staircase...
posts. Between the nave and the chancel is a rood screen
Rood screen
The rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
, again in oak, with a central opening and four further openings on each side. Tree-ring dating
Dendrochronology
Dendrochronology or tree-ring dating is the scientific method of dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree-rings. Dendrochronology can date the time at which tree rings were formed, in many types of wood, to the exact calendar year...
has shown that the wood used for making it came from trees felled between 1496 and 1506.