Rug Chapel

Rug Chapel is a building of group value, dating from 1637, with significant 19th-century alterations. It comprises an undivided nave and chancel, constructed from coursed and squared stone and covered by a slate roof. The exterior’s detail largely derives from a restoration carried out between 1854 and 1855. The western entrance features a double-chamfered arch with a hood mould. Above the doorway is a broad lancet window, and a bellcote sits on the gable. Simplified Perpendicular tracery is found in the two-light arched windows to the north and south, and the three-light east window. A vestry was added to the northeast.

The original interior from 1637 remains almost entirely intact. The roof structure features alternating hammerbeam trusses and simpler braced collar beam trusses. All trusses include cusped decoration in the panels formed by the upper raking struts, supporting moulded purlins and rafters. The principal rafters are richly painted with vinescroll and roses, and there are carved and coloured bosses. Cut-out coloured wooden angels, carved in relief, project from the bases of the hammerbeam trusses. The panels formed by the moulded rafters and purlins are painted with flowing cloud-like forms, further enriched by stars and angels over the chancel. A rich low-relief wood frieze, with stylized fruit, flowers, and beasts, runs along the wall plate of the north and south walls. An original wooden chandelier hangs from the central truss. A western gallery features turned balusters with low relief strapwork decoration on the base and rail, all coloured. The panelled supports for the staircase in the northwest angle are also richly coloured. The nave has coloured dado panelling. The largely 17th-century benches were given backs during the 19th-century restoration. They are joined at their bases by a richly carved, scalloped plinth depicting beasts and birds. The screen separating the chancel and nave, dating from the 1854-55 restoration, is in a Neo-Jacobean style and is coloured to match the original woodwork. The altar is flanked by canopied pews on either side. The 17th-century communion rails are currently not in situ and may not be original to Rug. A 17th-century wall-painting is located towards the northeast of the nave, depicting Corinthian pilasters framing a panel containing a smaller panel flanked by Ionic pilasters. This displays the emblems of death, accompanied by inscriptions in Latin and Welsh.