Church of St Mary and St Egryn

Church of St Mary and St Egryn

This is a medieval parish church constructed of rubble stone with a black ragstone west gable, roofed in slate between raised copings on both the east and west gable ends. The building comprises a simple nave and chancel in a single cell with a medieval south porch. Later additions include a north vestry, boiler house, and a tall gabled west bellcote.

The windows are primarily 19th century in date. The 1- and 2-light windows feature cusped heads. The east window is particularly fine, designed in a slightly curvilinear style with heavy hood moulds and diamond stops. The west window is a 2-light plate tracery window of 19th-century date with a quatrefoil head and relieving arch over. An ovolo eaves moulding runs along the south side. The medieval south porch is gabled with a plain pointed external arch in a stone coped gable end.

The south porch contains exceptional medieval carpentry. The roof is constructed with an arched braced collar truss, cusped above the collar, the chamfer of the arches embellished with regular diminutive nailheads and a central rose. Carved corbels support the structure. Cusped windbraces run to the single purlin. The floor is laid in marble and slate, with stone benches set each side. The south door is a pointed arch of 2 chamfered orders, fitted with a 19th-century door with elaborate iron hinges.

The interior walls are whitewashed. The nave roof spans 5 bays, while the chancel roof covers 2 bays. The easternmost bay is underdrawn with a late medieval timber celure with applied ribs and bosses carved with leaves and symbols. The main roof features medieval arch-braced collar trusses with two tiers of purlins and cusped windbraces. A quatrefoil frieze is applied over the eaves ashlars. The chancel is paved with encaustic tiles. Two steps lead to the altar, the upper step laid with fine encaustic tiles dated 1846, possibly by Godwin.

The major feature of the church is an extremely fine chancel screen and rood loft extending to the full width of 6.32 metres, with a central gated opening to the chancel. The screen and loft are probably late 15th or early 16th century in date. The screen comprises 7 bays, wider at the centre, with moulded stanchions and rail and an openwork top stage. The lower stage features applied tracery. The loft above is carved on both sides, with more elaborate carving to the east. Panelled coving displays large spreading leaf bosses alternating with smaller bosses exhibiting carvings of a stag, hedgehog and other subjects, alongside the symbols of the Passion. Two major friezes of undercut running vine scrolls form the cornice, surmounted by crestings on both sides and supporting moulded muntins front and back of the loft. Between each muntin are openwork carved panels in a variety of leaf and geometric forms. A further undercut scroll with crestings forms the capping. The west face is less elaborate but follows the same programme. Applied buttresses on the muntins, with triangular brackets over, form emplacements for 14 statuettes, while intervening panels have applied tracery heads. The loft itself measures 1.75 metres wide overall and has a mortice on the top rail each side, probably for a missing rood, suggesting it once functioned as a rood chapel.

The glazing includes several significant windows. The east window depicts a Crucifixion with figures in arched canopies and angels in the tracery, designed by H Hughes in 1872, a gift of W R M Wynne. The north window contains some old plain quarries with 7 yellow stained monograms and symbols. The southwest window depicts the Good Shepherd. The west window shows the Archangel announcing the Resurrection, also by Hughes. The northwest window, depicting Christ and labourers, dates to 1882 and was produced by Ward and Hughes.

Furnishings include a font with a lobed square bowl on a circular shaft set in a ring of a square base, possibly 13th century in date. The pulpit is octagonal on a plain base, all 19th century in date. An organ was installed in 1872.

The church contains a substantial collection of monuments. On the east wall, north side, is a white marble aedicule with fluted pilasters and entablature and a cornice arched at the centre carrying 3 gadrooned urns, with an apron displaying a putto between carved corbels. The enriched tablet at its centre bears the coloured mantled arms of Owen with crest over. The inscription records Richard Owen of Peniarth (died 1714) and his wife Elizabeth Pughe, with the wife's inscription added in 1738. On the east wall, south side, is a large marble monument of similar form to Lewis Owen of Peniarth, son of the above, (died 1729), his wife Margaret Williams of Llanworda, Salop, and their daughter Jane, who married Richard, Lord Bulkeley. Also recorded on this monument is Richard Owen, the son of Lewis Owen (died 1729).

On the south wall, from the east, is a monument in white Carrara marble on grey, produced by Johns Carline of Salop, in the form of a sarcophagus with entablature embellished with anthemion. This commemorates the noted antiquary William Wynne of Peniarth (died 1834) and various members of the family. Also on the south wall is a white marble tablet flanked by fluted columns with entablature over carrying arms with supporters on a panel supported by scrolls, a draped urn over, and gerbs at the top, all set on a black marble field. This monument records Edward Williams (died 1762) and Lady Bulkeley, heiress of Lewis Owen (died 1765). A further marble framed tablet commemorates Jane Wynne of Wem, Caernarfon and Peniarth (died 1811).

On the north wall, from the east, are several further monuments. A brass cross flanked by shields set on slate commemorates Mary Wynne (died 1866). Another similar monument records Mary Wynne (died 1900). A brass cross and shields with circumscription set in black marble commemorates William Watkin Edward Wynne of Peniarth, Member of Parliament (died 1880). A memorial tablet of similar type records William Robert Maurice Wynne, Member of Parliament (died 1909). A white marble aedicule with mantled arms breaking the pediment and animals on Ionic pilasters commemorates Owen Slaney Wynne (died 1908).

In the floor are two further tablets: one inscribed WW 1834, probably marking the entrance to the Wynne vault, and another inscribed HAEC AULA MANET HAEREDEM.