4846

 

II  

Designated  

30/11/1966  

27/02/2004  

Church of St Madryn  

 

Gwynedd  

Trawsfynydd  

 

Trawsfynydd  

270664  

335653  

NE  

Within a walled churchyard which has a lychgate to SW; at the NW side of the square along Church Street.  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

 

A double aisle parish church which may retain some medieval fabric but has been extensively restored. The N aisle represents the original church of continuous nave and chancel (extended to the W end), the S aisle and porch were added in C16. The church was extensively restored in 1853-4, all the windows were replaced at that time, the roof rebuilt using some C14 arch braced trusses and the timber arcade rebuilt. A fire destroyed the W end of the church in 1978, and the building had to be restored and has been re-roofed since that time.  

Double aisled parish church, built of mortared rubble masonry with freestone dressings. Modern slate roof with single bellcote at the W end of the N aisle. The porch is at the SW corner and has a wide arched entrance with a head of radiating narrow stones; there is also a simple flat headed doorway at the W gable of the N aisle. The windows are single and 2 light trefoil headed lights, most in rectangular frames, the E window of the N aisle has a shallow pointed head; lateral walls are of 4-bays and there is a blocked window at the E end of the N wall.  

Simple church of 2 aisles, with the sanctuary at the E end of the N aisle and a modern enclosed vestry in the NW corner; the chancel is raised by one step and the sanctuary a further 2 steps with a brass rail on shaped brass stanchions with floriate brackets. The church underwent extensive restoration in the mid C19, and the 2 aisles divided by a simple timber arcade of octagonal posts on stone piers. The arcade is recorded in the Inventory of Merioneth as having a plain entablature made of discarded pews, 2 of which bear the dates 1772 and 1779, now obscured by plaster. The roof has exposed timbers, the S aisle is of 6 roof bays with arch braced chamfered collared trusses, the braces above the collars cusped; between the trusses are moulded timbers following the roofline, possibly the remains of the C16 roof timbers. The N aisle is of 9 roof bays, also with arch braced chamfered trusses with angled braces over the collar; most probably replaced following the fire of 1978, though that over the sanctuary may be one of the re-used C14 trusses. Fittings are mid C19, the box pews with chamfered angles. The font is to E of the doorway and is an intricately traceried C19 octagonal font with traceried panels and a tall, highly decorative, carved wooden cover. Glass: The N wall has a small recessed area which is lit by a single window which bears the image of the patron saint of the church, St Madryn. The E window to S aisle is an early C20 window depicting Jesu Mercy and St David, to Elizabeth Hatton Wood of Pantglas . 1904 and alongside is a bronze tablet to her husband, Richard Henry Wood d.1908. The N aisle has a late C19 window depicting Christ as shepherd to William Williams, Rector of the parish, d.1888. Memorials: Between the 2 windows is a slate tablet memorial to Richard Roberts of Tyddyn Du d.1816, his wife Ann d.1828, to Gwen, daughter of Robert Roberts and his wife Margaret d.1859, also Ann their daughter d.1840 and Margaret, his wife, d.1846. The N wall bears a number of mid and late C19 slate memorials as well as an early C20 bronze tablet; also a slate to the Jones family of Dolgain - Elizabeth Jones d.1840, John d.1849, Robert d.1826, Anne d.1853, Anne d.1853 and William d.1793, also Elizabeth Poole d.1815, Elizabeth Jones d.1846, Elinor d.1853, Frances d.1817, Richard d.1822, Margaret d.1805 and Robert Lloyd Jones d.1890. Within the recess along the N wall are several mid C19 slate, marble and bronze memorial tablets, also a bronze to John Lloyd of Bryn Llefrith d.1764, and a slate to John Pryse d.1809. The W wall has a mid C19 slate memorial and a slate which bears the englyn: Annedd fair sanctaidd noddfa - Gor breiniol / Ger bron Duw a'r dyrfa / Er dim na thyred yma / Y dyn, ond a meddwl dda. / Parch E B Thomas 1899 Eosceiriog. The S wall bears several slate memorial tablets including one to John Morris of Calgwyn d.1816, his daughter d. 1828, son John d.1845 and wife Sarah d.1847; slate tablet to Maurice Roberts, Gwynfynydd, d.1807, his wife Catherine d.1818, sons David d.1816 and Robert d.1847; and slate tablet to the family of Rhiwgoch - David Davies d.1784, Robert Roberts d.1787, Ann Davies d.1804, Robert Roberts d.1842, Jane, wife of Robert Roberts d.1831, John Roberts d.1845, Jane Roberts d.1852, David Roberts d.1856, Elizabeth Roberts d.1860 and Robert Roberts d.1871.  

Listed as a simple rural parish church with uncommon double aisled plan, which retains some Medieval fabric and roof timber.