Church of St Tydecho

Church of St Tydecho

This is a single-chamber church comprising a nave and chancel, with a western bellcote, southern porch, and northern vestry. The building is constructed of rubble stone under a slate roof with stone copings. The southern side shows evidence of being raised at some point, and the western end features a large stone plinth and is roughcast.

The southern porch is a gabled structure to the left of the south side, built of coursed stone under a slate roof with stone copings and kneelers. It has a round-arched entrance formed of narrow stone voussoirs. The single-bay porch contains two rows of chamfered purlins and side benches. Above the entrance is a pegged Queen-post truss dated 1742 (the date is inscribed to the left of the tie-beam) with the letters VI inscribed to the centre. A shallow segmental arch partially cut into the soffit of the tie-beam leads to double panelled doors opening into the nave.

To the left of the porch is a square gallery window beneath the eaves, now infilled with stone. To the right of the porch are three plain lancet windows with sandstone surrounds and quarry glazing. The central lancet sits within the blocking of a tall 18th-century window, its round-arched head of stone voussoirs visible below the eaves. The eastern end has a three-light 19th-century window with Geometrical-style tracery and a yellow brick surround to the arch. The rear northern wall contains two plain lancets on either side of centre and a butt joint to the right of the left-hand window. A former square opening at the right end, probably associated with a former gallery, is now infilled with stone.

A stone lean-to vestry stands to the far left of the north wall, extended in brick towards the right. Its northern side has a 20th-century planked door to the left, two lancets to the right, and a planked door on the right return. The western end of the nave has a two-light window with triangular head and Y-tracery, probably dating to the 19th or 20th century. The wall supports a gabled stone bellcote with a single arched opening containing a bell.

The church has an impressive eight-bay roof with arched-brace trusses, the three to the east cusped above the braces. The southern wall was raised above the trusses in the 18th century, when a new roof pitch was inserted.

Most of the interior furnishings date to around 1902 and are made of pine. These include a central aisle with flanking box pews, a hexagonal pulpit to the left with the organ behind it, choir stalls and altar in similar style, and wood panelling to the reredos featuring cusped blind arches. On the window sill behind the altar is part of the cornice from a 15th-century chancel screen, decorated with openwork including vine-leaves, fruit, and a human head. At the western end is an octagonal stone font on a tall stem, probably dating to the 19th or 20th century.

The church contains several monuments and memorials. On the southern wall of the chancel is a large classical-style monument in high relief with an entablature featuring a broken segmental pediment and a shield; the eroded inscription is said to refer to Roger and Elizabeth Mostyn and was erected in 1744. To its right is a scrolled marble tablet commemorating Walter Evans, Surgeon of Hereford (died 1878). On the southern wall of the nave is a small black tablet with an arched head and raised lettering, commemorating Anne Morris (died 1729). On the panelling to the rear and left of the altar is a memorial to Leo Norton of Dolcorslwyn Hall who died in action in 1914. Additional wall tablets are located on the northern wall of the chancel.

The church contains several windows of note. The eastern window features brightly coloured stained glass depicting the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, dated 1864. The western window is by Ward & Hughes, dated 1889, and is dedicated to John Hughes, rector from 1827 to 1856. The southern central lancet contains a depiction of St Melangell, labelled ML 1905.