St Peirio's Church, Rhosbeirio
Encyclopedia
St Peirio's Church, Rhosbeirio is a small disused medieval church, in Anglesey
, north Wales. It is unclear when a church was first established on this site, although it has been said that this happened in about 605. The current structure, which may date from the 15th century, has been restored in the 18th and 19th centuries. It ceased being used for services some years ago and has been boarded up.
It is a Grade II listed building, a national designation given to "buildings of special interest, which warrant every effort being made
to preserve them", as "a simple, rural Medieval church" that retains "much of its original vernacular character" despite alterations. One 19th-century writer said that it was "one of the humblest ecclesiastical buildings in Anglesey", and that there were "no architectural features in this church worthy of delineation."
) to be "probably not older than the fifteenth century". Some restoration took place in 1812. The building was again restored, and a new roof added, in the late 19th century. The work was funded by Lord Stanley of Alderley
, a convert to Islam and patron of the church, whose donations to rural churches carried the requirement that Islamic detail should be included in any restoration work. At St Peirio's, the windows have geometric patterns of small panes of coloured glass as a result. The same condition was imposed by him for the work carried out in 1867 nearby at St Mary's Church, Bodewryd
.
St Peirio's is set in a churchyard in the countryside of Anglesey
, by a road between Llanfechell
and Bodewryd
, to the north of the island, and is approached along a tree-lined path. It is about 2.25 kilometres (1.4 mi) from St Mechell's Church, Llanfechell (which is still in use), and at one point was a chapel of ease
to St Eilian's Church, Llaneilian. In her history of Anglesey, published in 1833, the Welsh antiquarian Angharad Llwyd
noted that the "small ancient edifice" was some distance from the village of Rhosbeirio, and that a service was only held in it on the third Sunday of the month. By the time of the publication of a guide to the churches of Anglesey in 2006, the church had been closed for some years and the windows boarded up; it was noted that the fabric was still in generally good condition.
dressed with freestone, and it has a slate roof, with a bellcote at the west end and stone crosses on the porch and chancel
roofs. The timbers of the roof can be seen from inside. The walls have been assessed as being "probably not older than the fifteenth century". There is no internal division between the nave
and the chancel, and the church as a whole is 36 feet (11 m) long by 13 in 9 in (4.19 m) wide. The porch, at the west end of the south wall, was added in the late 19th century. There is one window in the north wall and two in the south wall, all of which are single windows set in rectangular frames; the east window has a pair of lights (vertical sections of window separated by a mullion
). All the windows date from the late 19th century. The plain bowl-shaped font dates from the 12th century. There is a brass memorial plaque recording three people who died in the 1640s. The 1937 survey by the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire recorded that the church possessed a silver cup from 1630 and a salver
dated 1784–85. The churchyard contains some gravestones, including a few dating from the 1980s and 1990s.
(the Welsh Assembly Government
body responsible for the built heritage of Wales and the inclusion of Welsh buildings on the statutory lists) also notes that it retains "much of its original vernacular character", despite the 19th-century alterations.
Writing in 1861, Harry Longueville Jones said of St Peirio's that it was "one of the humblest ecclesiastical buildings in Anglesey". He said that there were "no architectural features in this church worthy of delineation."
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, north Wales. It is unclear when a church was first established on this site, although it has been said that this happened in about 605. The current structure, which may date from the 15th century, has been restored in the 18th and 19th centuries. It ceased being used for services some years ago and has been boarded up.
It is a Grade II listed building, a national designation given to "buildings of special interest, which warrant every effort being made
to preserve them", as "a simple, rural Medieval church" that retains "much of its original vernacular character" despite alterations. One 19th-century writer said that it was "one of the humblest ecclesiastical buildings in Anglesey", and that there were "no architectural features in this church worthy of delineation."
History and location
The date of the original foundation of a Christian building at this location is unclear, although one 19th-century writer said that it is supposed that a church was first established here in about 605. No part of a building from that period survives; the walls of the present structure have been said (by the 19th-century clergyman and antiquarian Harry Longueville JonesHarry Longueville Jones
-Life:Jones was the son of Edward Jones by Charlotte Elizabeth Stephens, was born in Piccadilly, London, in 1806. His father was second son of Captain Thomas Jones of Wrexham, who adopted the additional name of Longueville on succeeding to a portion of the Longueville estates in Shropshire. Jones...
) to be "probably not older than the fifteenth century". Some restoration took place in 1812. The building was again restored, and a new roof added, in the late 19th century. The work was funded by Lord Stanley of Alderley
Henry Stanley, 3rd Baron Stanley of Alderley
Henry Edward John Stanley, 3rd Baron Stanley of Alderley and 2nd Baron Eddisbury was a historian who translated The first voyage round the world by Magellan and other works from the Age of Discovery...
, a convert to Islam and patron of the church, whose donations to rural churches carried the requirement that Islamic detail should be included in any restoration work. At St Peirio's, the windows have geometric patterns of small panes of coloured glass as a result. The same condition was imposed by him for the work carried out in 1867 nearby at St Mary's Church, Bodewryd
St Mary's Church, Bodewryd
St Mary's Church, Bodewryd is a small medieval church in the hamlet of Bodewryd, in Anglesey, north Wales. The date of construction is unknown, but there was a church on this site in 1254 and the earliest feature to which a date can be given is a doorway in a 15th-century style dating to around 1500...
.
St Peirio's is set in a churchyard in the countryside of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, by a road between Llanfechell
Llanfechell
Llanfechell is a village in Anglesey, in north-west Wales....
and Bodewryd
Bodewryd
Bodewryd is a village in Anglesey, Wales.-St Mary's Church:The village church is St Mary's, Bodewryd, a small medieval church. It is said by the Diocese of Bangor to be the second-smallest church in Anglesey...
, to the north of the island, and is approached along a tree-lined path. It is about 2.25 kilometres (1.4 mi) from St Mechell's Church, Llanfechell (which is still in use), and at one point was a chapel of ease
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
to St Eilian's Church, Llaneilian. In her history of Anglesey, published in 1833, the Welsh antiquarian Angharad Llwyd
Angharad Llwyd
Angharad Llwyd was a Welsh antiquary and a prizewinner at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.She was born at Caerwys in Flintshire, the daughter of Rev. John Lloyd, himself a noted antiquary. Her essay entitled Catalogue of Welsh Manuscripts, etc. in North Wales won a prize at the Welshpool...
noted that the "small ancient edifice" was some distance from the village of Rhosbeirio, and that a service was only held in it on the third Sunday of the month. By the time of the publication of a guide to the churches of Anglesey in 2006, the church had been closed for some years and the windows boarded up; it was noted that the fabric was still in generally good condition.
Architecture and fittings
The church is built from rubble masonryRubble masonry
Rubble masonry is rough, unhewn building stone set in mortar, but not laid in regular courses. It may appear as the outer surface of a wall or may fill the core of a wall which is faced with unit masonry such as brick or cut stone....
dressed with freestone, and it has a slate roof, with a bellcote at the west end and stone crosses on the porch and 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...
roofs. The timbers of the roof can be seen from inside. The walls have been assessed as being "probably not older than the fifteenth century". There is no internal division between 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 chancel, and the church as a whole is 36 feet (11 m) long by 13 in 9 in (4.19 m) wide. The porch, at the west end of the south wall, was added in the late 19th century. There is one window in the north wall and two in the south wall, all of which are single windows set in rectangular frames; the east window has a pair of lights (vertical sections of window separated by a mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
). All the windows date from the late 19th century. The plain bowl-shaped font dates from the 12th century. There is a brass memorial plaque recording three people who died in the 1640s. The 1937 survey by the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire recorded that the church possessed a silver cup from 1630 and a salver
Salver
A salver is a flat tray of silver or other metal used for carrying or serving glasses, cups and dishes at table or for the presenting of a letter or card by a servant...
dated 1784–85. The churchyard contains some gravestones, including a few dating from the 1980s and 1990s.
Assessment
The church has national recognition and statutory protection from alteration as it has been designated as a Grade II listed building – the lowest of the three grades of listing, designating "buildings of special interest, which warrant every effort being made to preserve them". It was given this status on 12 May 1970, and has been listed as "a simple, rural Medieval church". CadwCadw
-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...
(the Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
body responsible for the built heritage of Wales and the inclusion of Welsh buildings on the statutory lists) also notes that it retains "much of its original vernacular character", despite the 19th-century alterations.
Writing in 1861, Harry Longueville Jones said of St Peirio's that it was "one of the humblest ecclesiastical buildings in Anglesey". He said that there were "no architectural features in this church worthy of delineation."