Church of St Beuno

Church of St Beuno

This restored mediaeval church, originally consisting of nave and chancel, is now dominated by a large 19th-century tower and stone spire positioned to the south, with the tower's base forming the porch. The surviving mediaeval masonry of the nave and chancel is constructed from local axe-dressed gritstone, while the 19th-century alterations and additions generally employ a slatey local stone with freestone dressings. The west of the nave is heavily buttressed, with slate roofs and coped gables. Corbelled gabled kneelers sit at the feet of the gable copings, and a finial cross crowns the apex of the east gable. A corbel table runs above a string course at the eaves of both nave and chancel. A plinth with a simple offset course marks the foot of the north, east and south walls.

The large renovated Perpendicular east window contains five lights with a transom at springing level. Two small side windows flank each side of the chancel, each of two lights without ornamentation. The nave windows show greater variety: on the south, a two-light window with trefoiled heads stands west of the tower, with a similar window centrally positioned on the north side; two further windows on the north and south are of three lights with trefoiled heads beneath segmental or four-centred arches. A small pointed west doorway exists, but there is no west window.

The three-storey tower features string courses and crossed lighter-coloured buttresses. The belfry lights are large with mullions, transoms and lesser mullions forming eight openings with louvres on each face; twin pointed heads with outer arches of ogee form surmount each. Clock faces sit below the openings. The middle storey displays three-light mullion-and-transom openings to the south and east, each with a square label mould and a decorative apron of quatrefoil sinkings. The main door is positioned to the east under a four-centred arch with a square label moulding. A two-light small window occupies the south face. An elaborate high plinth moulding runs at the base. A semi-octagonal staircase annex with stone roof and slit windows extends to the west. The octagonal spire features broaches, small blind traceried mid-height openings above a thin string course, and is topped with a metal cross.

The former unity of nave and chancel has been severed by a large 19th-century chancel arch. The late mediaeval roof of the nave spans seven bays with low-pitch arch-braced collar-beam trusses that include v-struts and cusping above the collars. Two purlins run along each side with cusped windbraces. The chancel roof is similar but comprises three bays, except that the wider east bay features a panelled and decoratively carved barrel-form celure. A decorative cornice runs through the chancel. A strong feature of the 19th-century restoration is the decorative coloured quarry tile and encaustic tile flooring.

The interior contains plain 19th-century pews in the nave with decorative iron lamp standards. An openwork 19th-century carved Gothic pulpit stands to the left. An octagonal font and base are carved from a single piece. The west of the nave is separated as a vestry by an open screen. The wide four-centred 19th-century chancel arch is constructed in sandstone with nook columns on each side in black marble. This arch, lacking sufficient abutment, is now held by a large steel tie rod. The chancel screen is carved in oak with a decorative cornice, separated from the chancel by one step up. Simple 19th-century Gothic choirstalls and a prayer desk occupy the chancel. The organ, originally a hand-pumped instrument brought from Rûg in 1897, stands to the left. Two steps lead up to the sanctuary. The Communion rail is hardwood with a hinged lifting section at the centre and decorative iron standards. An openwork 19th-century carved Gothic altar rests on one plinth step. A stone trefoil-headed 19th-century alcove and credence table are built into the foot of the south window.

All windows contain plain glass except the north-east window of the chancel, which holds panels of relocated mediaeval glass probably originally from the east window, and the north-east window of the nave, which depicts Christ giving the keys to St Peter in memory of Reverend T Ll Williams (1915).

The chancel walls display Jacobean carved panels from the Ucheldre seat and a chronogram inscription. The nave walls bear a crucifix above the pulpit, a 19th-century carved panel of the Lord's Prayer, and a white marble memorial to Reverend E Roberts (1839) and others. A Baroque memorial to William Humffreys of Maerdu (died 1718) and his wife (died 1744) features a broken rounded armorial pediment, a cherub beneath a shelf, and bears a date of 1753. A table of incumbents since 1535 and drawings of the church before restoration hang on the walls. Near the door is a table of charitable bequests to the poor. The porch contains a foundation stone laid by Frances Georgiana Wynn on 12th February 1880.

A dug-out mediaeval parish chest stands in the vestry.