The name or dedication of the church.
This identifies the church type. Most churches are parish churches which means they serve a specific parish or area. Other types such as chapel, daughter and mission are mostly historic designations as many are now also parish churches. Please note that former churches are no longer used for worhsip and may be in private ownership.
A unique identification number given to every church.
The name of the diocese in which the church is located.
The name of the archdeaconry in which the church is located.
This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.
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There are 3 levels of listing: Grade I, II* & II. The majority of buildings which are of special interest are Grade II. A much smaller number of particularly important buildings are listed as Grade II*. Buildings of exceptional interest (approx 2% of the total number of listed buildings) are Grade I.
Ancient monuments and archaeological remains of national importance are protected by law. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service is responsible for compiling a schedule (list) of these ancient monuments, some of which can be found in churches and churchyards. Examples can include churchyard crosses and the archaeological remains of previous churches or buildings on the site.
There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. These protect 20 percent of the land in Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites.
There are over 500 conservation areas in Wales. They are designated by local planning authorities for their special architectural and historic interest.
The Buildings at Risk register is managed by Cadw (the Welsh Government’s historic environment service) in order to identify the number and type of listed buildings at risk in Wales.
It is often extremely difficult to determine a precise date of construction for a church as many have been extensively altered over time. Church Heritage Cymru therefore shows a date range within which a church is believed to have been constructed. The dates are as follows: Early Medieval (pre 1066), Medieval (post 1066 to 1540), Post Medieval (1540 to 1837), Victorian/Pre WWI (1837 to 1914) and Modern (post 1914).
The name/dedication of the church and its location.
A brief description of the image
The date the image was created.
Details of any copyright are displayed here.
The name of the person who uploaded the image.
This is a very brief summary of the church's main features. More detailed nformation can be found in the other fields and pages (tabs) in this database.
Useful information is displayed here for people wishing to visit the church. This may include things like opening hours, catering & toilet facilities, parking, etc.
If the church has its own website the details will be displayed here.
Any further sources of information for the church will be listed here (eg. links to other historic databases).
This is the Ordnance Survey (OS) reference for the location of the church. Some locations will be approximate as this data is continuously being refined and updated.
This is the name of the Local Authoirity within which the church is located.
This describes how the church relates to its immediate and wider environment, sometimes called its setting. It describes how the church contributes to its landscape or townscape and how these things collectively contribute to the character of the area.
The Victorian Church of St Garmon is set within its sub-rectangular churchyard at the centre of the village of Castle Caereinion, four miles to the west of Welshpool in the former County of Montgomeryshire (now Powys). The wider area is largely rural in nature, with the village laying close to the A458, the main route linking Dolgellau in the west to Welshpool in the east.
This is a description of the ground plan of the church.
If known, the dimensions (measurements) of the church ground plan will be displayed here.
If the footrprint (area) of the church is known, it will be displayed here.
A description of the history and archaeology of the church and its site.
The dedication of the church to St Garmon, a local saint, could possibly suggest an early medieval origin, although there is no evidence to support this. The church sits centrally within its sub-rectangular churchyard, believed to be the former bailey of the castle built in 1156 (but destroyed in 1167) by Madoc ap Maredudd, King of Powys. A series of yew tree topped mounds in the southern part of the churchyard are thought to represent the bank of the bailey. A large mound, Twmpath Garmon (a scheduled ancient monument), is located on the northern perimeter of the churchyard and has been identified as the motte of the castle.
The presence of a church on the site was first recorded in 1254 (most probably built to serve the castle), although the present church replaced an earlier 15th century single-celled building which was beset by many problems during its lifetime. The chancel was refurbished in 1691, but many of the furnishings were stolen six years later. The rural dean's reports of 1729 and 1748 commended the church, though in 1736 its west end had fallen down and had to be rebuilt on a new foundation. By 1791 there were problems with the floor because of the burials beneath it, and the roof was damaged in 1799. It was partly rebuilt in 1812-13 at a cost of £600, when one of the gables, the south wall and the roof were renewed. In addition, the building was re-pewed, a new window inserted in the east wall and a new gallery erected. A school was held in the church until 1812, when a school-house was built; the red brick building outside the north gates is the new school built in 1852.
The entire church was demolished and rebuilt in 1865/6. It was designed and built by the Diocesan Architect, T H Wyatt in the Early English style, at a cost of £1762. It had a nave, chancel and small vestry. The east window, placed in the church at its opening, is by J H Powell of the firm John Hardman and Company. Further work was carried out in 1874 by Thomas Batt when the tower, spire and porch were added, along with an additional restoration in 1898.
References: CPAT, Cadw & RCAHMW - full descriptions are available from the links at the bottom of the Core Details page.
A description of the exterior of the church and the main features of the churchyard.
Built of squared green rubble stone with limestone dressings and a slate roof. Nave of 3 bays in Early English style, with 2-light plate tracery windows, offsetting buttresses, ashlar eaves course and coped gables. Narrow short chancel of similar materials, with 3-light plate tracery east window, and an added organ chamber on the north, with the heating chamber below. A vestry, also added, is set at right angles on the south. The later tower at the west end is of a darker stone, and incorporates the entrance porch in the tall lower stage, with a bell stage above a limestone string. Angle buttresses. The west door is of 2 chamfered orders and 2 trefoil-headed lancets over. Imposing plain broach spire with a terminal cross. A small stair tower is set in the north-east angle, with a shouldered external door and octagonal top. A clock face appears on 3 sides of the tower, inscribed DUW A DIGON.
Reference: Cadw listed building description.
Information about any noteable architects, artists, people, or events associated with the church.
Information about any important features and building fabric.
If known, a list of the church's major building material/s will be displayed here.
Any renewable energy systems the church is using will be listed here.
This section gives a general description of the interior of the church. Further details of any important internal fixtures and fittings will be listed below.
The internal door to the church is of 2 chamfered orders. Nave of 5 roof bays, the exposed collar beam trusses have cusped braces carried down to wall posts and corbels. Cross braces appear above the collars. The walls are plastered. The chancel is raised by 2 steps and has a panelled wagon ceiling painted with stars. The sanctuary is raised a further step and paved with encaustic tiles. Alabaster reredos carried across the east wall, with 3 carved panels set against gilded mosaic work. At the west end, a raked galley carried on 4 posts with pierced timber spandrels. Glass: north window, of 1871, south-east lancet, the Good Shepherd, by Abbott of Lancaster, and a geometric foliage window of circa 1840s by David Evans of Shrewsbury. Fittings: Font; Octagonal with inset trefoils. Pulpit; Oak, open traceried octagon directly accessed from the vestry. Pine pews, but oak in the chancel. Moulded sanctuary rail on brass plated iron stanchions. Organ by Greeenward of Southsea. Bells: Three, one of 1628 and one of 1637, one a late medieval bell recast by Mears of London. Monuments: In the chancel, S wall (a) Oval ivy framed tablet on grey to Mary Jones of Coffronydd (sic), later wife to Thomas Brown of Mellington, d.1810. North wall: (b) white marble in veined black marble surround, to Noel Turner of Sylfaen, d.1915. In the porch, (c) white on grey marble, corner acroteria and pyramid, to Edward Loyd (sic) of Trefnant, d.1819, the primary inscription absent. Two black marble Commandment tablets either side of the altar, and 2 similar charity tablets are set in the porch. In the gallery, a fine mantled royal arms, with lion and unicorn supporters. Miscellaneous: An unfixed brass of 1700, the church muniment chest of 1758, inscribed WI and RR, churchwardens, and a 17th century chest.
Information about the church's important internal fixtures and fittings.
Information about the church's important moveable items and artworks.
A description of the ecology of the churchyard.
Information about the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.
Records whether the church has been consecrated.
Records whether there have been burials in the churchyard.
Records whether the churchyard is still being used for burials.
Records whether there are any war graves in the churchyard.
Any important churchyard structures will be listed here.
Signifiance levels are set at high, medium and low.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship of the church to its surrounding area and helps place it within its wider landscape context.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the significance of the historic building fabric of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the historic significance of the interior of the church.
Significance defines what is special about a church. This could be architectural, archaeological, historical or liturgical. Here, it describes the relationship between the church and its community.